Page 1 ^ '~£L Jp % I-Il- R J

'~£l

^ jP

% ' C i-il- r j ^ -

4 ^V z%

r^s V? Return to

LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

WOODS HOLE, MASS.

Loaned by American Museum of Natural History

)^ ^AJlAAAu THE CANADIAN LIBRARY ENTOMOLOGIST.

fee. ^K VOLUME III. m&

WITIX FORTY ILLUSTRATION'S.

(gbiteb bij the llicb. <£. J. £. Methane, itt. 1., Head Master of Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ont.

ISBIST£D i:\

J. M, W. B. Ont. ; and SAUNDERB, London, Ont. ; E. REED, Bari-istei'-at-Law, London, DENTON, London, Ont,

LONDON :

PRINTED BY THE FREE PRESS STEAM PRINTING COMPANY. RICHMOND S'l

I 87 r -5 rr LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME.

BETHUNE, REV. C. J. S., The Editor Port Hope, Ont.

B< >WLES, G. J Quebec. CHAMBERS, V. T Covington, Rv.

( :OU PER, WM Montreal, P. Q. ]). ! )ODGE, C. R Washington, C, U. S.

)I I M M( )CK, GEO Springfield, Mass., U. S. t EDWARDS, W. H Coalburgh, W . Va., U. S. GROTE, AUG. R Demopolis, Ala, U. S.

JONES, J. MATTHEW Halifax, Nova Scotia. PARKER. H. W Amherst, Mass., U. S.

PETTIT, J Grimsby, Ont. REED, E. B.j Assistant Editor London, Ont. RILEY, C. V ST. Louis, Mo., U. S. SAUNDERS, WM., Assistant Editor London, Ont. SPRAGUE, P. S Boston, Mass., U. S. THOMAS, C Washington, D. C, U.S. WALKER, FRANCIS London, England.

< J ( ) X S T I T XT T I() N OP

INCORPORATED 1871.

SECTION I.— (OBJECTS AND MEMBERSHIP.) " 1. The Society shall be called The Entomological Society of Ontario/' and is instituted for the investigation of the character and habits of insects, the improvement and advancement of Entomological Science, and more especially its practical bearing on the Agricultural and Horticultural interests of the Province. The Society shall consist of not less than twenty-five members. — 2. The Society shall consist of four classes, viz. : Members Ordinary, Life, Associate and Honorary. 3. Ordinary Members shall be persons whose pursuits, or studies, are connected with Entomology, or who are in any way interested in Natural History. 4. Life Members shall be persons who have made donations to the value of $25 in money, books or specimens (the two latter to be valued by competent persons), or who may be elected as such at the General Meeting of the Society, for important services performed, and after due notice has been given. 5. Associate Members shall be persons residing out of the Dominion of Canada, whose pursuits or interests are similar to those of Ordinary Members. They shall have all the privileges of Ordinary Members except that of voting. 6. Honorary Members shall be members of high standing and eminence for their attainments in Entomology. 7. The number of Honorary Members shall be limited to twenty-five. 8. The Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and not fewer than three, and not more than five, Directors, to form a Council all of with shall be elected at the ; whom, two Auditors, annually Annual General Meeting of the Society, and shall be eligible for re-election. The said Council shall, at their first meeting, appoint a Curator. SECTION II.—(ELECTION OF MEMBERS.)

1. All candidates for admission into the Society as Members, Associate Members, or Life Members, must be proposed by a member at a regular meeting of the Society, and be ballotted for the affirmative of ; vote three-fourths of the members present shall be necessary for the election of a candidate. 2. Honorary Members must be recommended by at least three members, who shall that the is the certify person named eminent for his Entomological attainments ; election in their case shall be conducted in the same manner as laid down for other members.

3. Whenever any person is elected a member in any class, the Secretary shall inform him of the same letter no shall be considered a immediately by ; and person member until he has signified his acquiesence in the election. 4. Every person elected a member is required to pay his first contribution within one month of the date of his election null and void. ; otherwise his election shall be CONSTITUTION

SECTION III.— (CONTRIBUTIONS.)

1. The annual contribution of Ordinary and Associate Members shall be one all to be due in advance on the first of in each dollar ; contributions day January year, the payment of which shall entitle the member to a copy of all the publications of the Society during the year. All new members, except those elected at and after the Annual General Meeting and before the following first of January, shall be required to pay the subscription for the year in which they are elected.

considered to to the as -2. E^ery member shall be belong Society, and such be liable to the payment of his annual contribution, until he has either forfeited his claim. or has sitrniried to the Secretary in writing his desire to withdraw, when his name shall he erased from the list of members.

:}. Whenever any member shall be one year in arrear in the payment of his annual c mtribution, the Secretary shall inform him of the fact in writing. Any member continuing two years in arrears shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Society, and his name shall be erased from the list of members.

4. Life and Honorary Members shall not be required to pay any annual contribution.

SECTION IV.—(OFFICERS.)

1. The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings of the Society, to preserve good order and decorum, and to regulate debates.

2. The duties of the Vice-President shall be the same as those of the President during his absence.

3. The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be to take and preserve correct minutes of the proceedings of the Society, and to present and read all communications addressed to the to of their those in arrear of Society ; notify members election, and the amount of their indebtedness to a correct list of the members of the ; keep Society, with the dates of their election, resignation, or death, and their addresses; to maintain the correspondence of the Society, and to acknowledge all donations to it. He shall also take charge of the funds of the Society, and keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements, and of the indebtedness of the members, and render an annual report of the same at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, in the manner required by the Act respecting the Board of Agriculture and Arts.

4. It shall be the duty of the Curator to take charge of all books, specimens, cabinets, and other properties of the Society; to receive and arrange in their proper places all donations of specimens: to keep a record of all contributions of books and with a list of the contributors and to oversee direct of specimens, ; and any exchange specimens. He shall, also, report annually to the Society on the condition of the specimens and cabinets under his care.

o. The Officers of the Society shall form a Council who shall have the direction ••uid management of the affairs of the Society. The Council shall meet once in every the time quarter, and place of meeting to be appointed by the President, and notice to be iriven by the Secretary at least ten days beforehand.

SECTION V.—(MEETINGS.)

1 1. Ordinary Meetings shall be held once a month, on .-ueh days and at such Lou as the Society by resolution may from time to time agree upon.

2. The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held at the place and during the same time as the Exhibition of the Agricultural and Aits Association is being held in each year, to receive and deliberate upon the Report of the Council on the state of the Society, to elect Officers and Directors for the ensuing year, and to transact any other business of which notice has been given.

3. Special Meetings of the Society may be called by the President upon the written request of five members of the .Society, provided that one week's notice of the meeting he given, and thai its object be specified.

SECTION VI.-(BRANCHES OF THE SOCIETY.)

1. Branches of the Society may be formed in any place within the Dominion of Canada on a written application to tiie Society from at least six persons resident in the locality.

he to the 2. Each Branch shall required pay to Parent Society fifty cents per annum to: each paying member on its list.

3. Every Branch shall be governed by the constitution <>f the Society, hut shall have power to elect its own officers, and enact by-laws for itself, ptovided they be not cinerary to the tenor and spirit of the Constitution of the whole Society.

4. All the members of the Branches shall be members of the Society and entitled to all the privileges of Ordinary Members.

5. No Associate or Honorary Member shall be appointed by the Branches, but such members may be proposed at General Meetings of the Society by any Branch, as well as by individual memo* is.

6. Each Branch shit 11 transmit to the Parent Society on or i efore the first of September in each year, an Annual Report of its proceedings, such Report to be read at the Annu.il General M 'otiu '.

SECTION" V1L—(ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION.)

1. in No article any secti >n of this Constitution shall be altered or added to, unless notice be first given at an ordinary meeting of the Society, or of a Branch, and the alteration or addition be sanctioned by two-thirds of the members present at the next the of the or ensuing meeting; Secretary Society, of the Branch, shall then notify the Secretaries of all the other Branches ; when the sanction of all the Branches has b:en obtained in the same manner, the alteration or addition shall become law. 1V> ACT OF INCORPORATION.

Act of Incorporation of the Entomological

Society of Ontario.

Extracted from the A'jricuJtvraJ and Arts Act, 34 Vic. 1870-71.

That the following new section and sub-section read as and be section thirty-three of 31 Vict,,c. 29:— " ' The Society now existing and known as the Entomological Society of Canada,' may organize and form themselves into a Society, comprising not less than twenty-five members, and paying an annual subscription of not less than one dollar each, to be " known as The Entomological Society of Ontario," and shall have power to adopt a constitution, and make by-laws for the admission of members, and for its guidance and proper management, and the promotion of any objects consistent with the study of Entomology, and its practical bearing upon the Agricultural and Horticultural interest » of the Province of Ontario and not inconsistent with the laws of the Province ; and on filing a copy of such constitution and by-laws with the Commissioner of Agiiculture, such society shall become a body corporate under this Act."

(1.) And such society shall be entitled to receive, from unappropriated moneys in the hands of the Treasurer of the Province, a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars in any one year :

(2.) The said Society shall hold an annual meeting at the place, and during the same time as the Exhibition of the Agricultural and Arts Association is being held, in each and and shall at such full of its every year ; meeting present a report proceedings and a detailed statement of its receipts and expenditure for the previous year, and shall at such meeting elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer (or a and not fewer than nor more than five Directors Secretary-Treasurer), three, ; and they shall also elect two Auditors :

(3.) A copy of the annual report of its proceedings, and a list of the office-bearers elected, and also a report of such information as the Society may have been able to obtain on the subject of insects beneficial or injurious to the farm and the garden, with such appropriate illustrations as the Society may have been able to obtain, shall be sent to the Commissioner of Agriculture within thirty days after the holding of such annual meeting.

By another section the President of the Entomological Society of Ontario is made a member ex officio of the Council of the Agricultural Society. C|e (liaMbki OBntomologbt.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 1871. NO. 1.

OUR THIRD VOLUME.

To all our friends and correspondents— to all who read these pages, we bid more are a new volume for the third a kindly greeting. Once we entering upon ; time we solicit the attention and assistance of all lovers of nature throughout the continent—of all especially who delight in the study of the wonderfully varied forms, structure and habits of Insects. In addition, we now also desire to draw into our friendly circle of readers and observers in the same great field of nature, that numerous class of haters of insects, who hate them with a deadly hate, who give them no quarter in any case, and who devote them all alike to execration and unsparing destruction. Friends, we invite you all to come and join us in our work, which is one of deepest pleasure, even though often filled with toil; come with us and search into the mysteries of the insect world; help us to trace out the wondrous beauties of structure, form aud coloring of these marvels of the Creator's power; help us to investigate thoroughly the lives, metamorphoses, habits, occupations, food, and all other matters connected with these tiny creatures; join us in working out their scientific arrangement and nomenclature; aid us in rightly discriminating between friend and foe, between noxious, beneficial and neutral insects, and let us all unite in the endeavour to discover the best means of counteracting the ravages of the one, and of encouraging and protecting the other.

In this work till can do something; not only the laborious student of Ento- mology and the ardent collector of insects, but multitudes of others as well. Every fruit grower, farmer and gardener, every one who cultivates even a square yard of ground, has constant opportunities of learning new facts respecting these ubiquitous creatures, and can, if he but will, add much to our knowledge of them. Careful observation is the first and most important operation, and next the accurate record of the facts observed. It is astonishing how much can be learnt in a single season by any one who will but open his eyes to what is going on about him, and how much true pleasure can be derived from the con- templation. We beg, then, kindly reader, that if you are not already like ourselves a devotee at this particular shrine of Nature, that you will make use of this joyous spring time that has opened upon us, and become initiated into the mysteries of this alluring science. It is a branch of knowledge the pages whereof are open to all, the secrets of which are ready to be disclosed to every enquirer. It requires no costly apparatus, no long journeys in search of materials; its THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

all about us where we will we cannot fail to find them. It is, objects are ; go bears as its fruit moreover, fraught with pleasure to the seeker after it, and results of enormous value to the prosperity and wealth of our country. To enable us to enlarge our circle of readers and correspondents, and to attract as many as possible into the consideration of this branch of natural this history, we are publishing a thousand copies of number of the Canadian Entomologist, and are sending them to all whose addiesses we can ascertain, and who are known to be interested in the subjects treated of in these pages, either directly as Entomologists, or indirectly as Fruit-growers and Agricultur- ists. We beg that all those to whom a copy of this number is sent, and who desire to receive it regularly, will kindly send the amount of the subscription to the Secretary -Treasurer as stated below. Former subscribers will no doubt observe and appreciate the improvements in the appearance, size and embellish- ment of our Journal. Though our progress has been satisfactory since we timidly put forth a first number in August, 1868, we still hope to continue to prosper and increase, and we trust that all our friends will not deem it too much trouble to give us a helping hand, and introduce us to their neighbors and correspondents.

The Entomologist will in future be mailed to all members of the Entomo- logical Society of Ontario, free.

TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP.

Ordinary Members, being subscribers residing within the Dominion of Canada $1 00

Associate Members residing in the United States (U.S. c'y.) 1 25 Great Britain 5s.stg.

All fees are payable in advance in January of each year. Extra copies 10c. each; $1 per doz. All business communications and remittances should be addressed to E. Baynes Reed, (Sec.-Treas. Ent. Society of Ontario), London, Ont.

*»

For the benefit of new members and others who may not fully understand the and position constitution of the Entomological Society of Ontario, we have printed in the number present that portion of the Amended Agricultural Act which relates to our also our Society ; constitution in full. This covers four pages, and thus lessens the amount of Entomological matter which in future numbers will occupy the full twenty pages.

THE CANADIAN KXTOMOLOGIST.

FIG. I.

: Color apple green ; mauve stripes ; orange stigmata.

FIG. 2.

Color : dark reddish-brown.

FIG. 3. Color: black and brown, with fawn-colored white. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST,

THE PLUM SPHINX MOTH.

Sphinx drupiferarum (Smith &' Abbott J. BY E. B. REED, LONDON, ONT.

As this moth pretty generally makes its appearance in our plum orchards from year to year, I have thought it advisable to give a short history of its different stages for the benefit of our fruit-growers. It is a member of a family of moths to which the great naturalist Linnams gave the name of iSphingidce, on account of the resemblance he conceived some of their caterpillars bore, in certain positions, to the notorious Egyptian Sphinx, and which our artist has faithfully represented in the engraving of the larva—

fig. 1. While the ravages caused by this caterpillar are fortunately not very extensive, yet it generally appears in different localities from time to time in numbers quite sufficient to cause considerable annoyance to the plum growers of those regions. Its conspicuous size, when full grown, and its bright green colored body, and mauve stripes, make it tolerably easy of detection; while the leafless twigs, the result of the voracious appetite necessary to sustain its huge carcass, are sure to cause the eyes of the observant fruit-grower to make diligent search after this monster leaf-eater.

The larva (fig. 1) is hatched from an egg deposited (probably) singly on the under side of the leaf.

Mr. Wm. Saunders has kindly allowed me to make use of his notes on the appearance of the young larva?. On the 2nd of July, a pair of drupiferarum were brought to him which had been taken in coitu. They were confined together in a seidlitz box. The next day the female began depositing eggs, continuing to do so for two or three days. "Egg: Length -07 inch; slightly oval; surface smooth; color pale yellowish green. In from 6 to 8 days,the young larvae made their appearance, having eaten their way out through the side of the egg. In some cases one half or more of the egg-shell was eaten; in others only a hole just large enough to allow of the of the while in a few cases it was almost consumed. escape —larva, entirely July 10. Some out this morning, length -22 inch; head very large, rounded' pale yellowish-green, with a few very short whitish hairs; mandibles tipped with dark brown; body above pale yellowish -green, with a few whitish slightly elevated tubercles on every segment, from each of which arises a single short fine hair, those along each side of the dorsal line dark brown, the others yellowish white. The tubercles are arranged in a double transverse row on the middle and hind segments; caudal horn -10 inch long, nearly erect, black, thickly covered with very short stiffish black hairs slightly furcate at the apex. Each tip terminated by a pale brownish hair longer than the others; under surface similar to upper." The larva,when full grown, measures about three or three and a half inches. Its color is a beautiful apple green. The head is also green, with lateral dark 6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

brown or black stripes. On each side of the body are seven broad oblique bands of a white color, bordered in front with light purple or mauve. The stigmata or breathing pores are very distinct, and are of a bright orange-yellow color. The caudal horn is long, of a dark brown color, with a yellow tint at the base of the sides. The body is cylindrical in form, and is smooth to the touch. The caterpillar, after satisfying its appetite, or on any sudden alarm, assumes the peculiar rigid appearance shown in the cut, and will remain thus, with its head raised, for a considerable period. The formidable-looking horn on the last the insect a rather but it is segment gives alarming appearance ; perfectly harmless, and in fact even at this date naturalists can find no use either for offensive or defensive purposes, for this horn, which is peculiar to nearly all the caterpillars of the Sphingidce. The larva of the Plum Sphinx is generally found in Ontario about the month of July or the early part of August. When it has attained its maturity it ceases eating, and seeks shelter in the earth, where it excavates for itself a convenient chamber which it lines with a water-proof, gummy cement, and there undergoes its transformation into the pupa or chrysalis state.

The pupa (fig. 2) is about 1^ inches in length; its color is dark reddish-

brown, and it has a short thick projecting, or as naturalists term it, exserted tongue case. The insect remains in the ground all through the winter and spring, and emerges in its perfect winged state about the early part of June.

The moth (fig. 3) is a large one, its wings expanding from 3^ to 4j inches. The body is about 1^ inches long, varying slightly in the sexes as to length, that of the female being shorter, somewhat thicker, and more obtuse at the anal segment, while that of the male is longer and tapers almost to a point. Describing this moth from five specimens (2 male and 3 female) now before me, there appears very little difference in the markings of male and female. The antennae are slightly different, but it requires some slight experience in Ento - mology to ascertain it. The head and thorax, which are large and thick, are blackish-brown with a whitish fawn color at the side. The eyes are very prominent. The snout-like projection is composed of the palpi, or feelers, which are two close-fitting shields for the protection of the proboscis, which lies snugly coiled up between them like the mainspring of a watch. This proboscis or tongue which is shewn in the engraving (fig. 3) is as long as the body of the moth, and is used by the insect in extracting from flowers the honey, which forms its chief food. To a watchful observer, a sphinx moth presents a most curious appear- not ance, unlike that of a humming bird, while it hovers over some flower bed with its wings humming from their rapid and ceaseless beating, its body poised in the air, and its long tongue projecting like the beak of a bird, and dipping from time to time into the innermost recesses of the various flowers in search of food. The body of the moth is brown, with a black central line and a black band on either side containing four or five dingy white spots. On the back of the thorax are several fawn-colored blotches or markings which are peculiar to many THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

of the Sphingidce, and which some of our readers may possibly have noticed in the striking resemblance to a human skull on the thorax of the English death's head moth, Acherontia atropos. The wings are long and very narrow, but possessing great strength and evidently adapted for great swiftness. Their general color is dark purplish-brown, with a stripe -of white on the front edge extending from the white sides of the head, and with a fawn-colored stripe on the outer edge of the front wing. The hind wings have two whitish wavy stripes with a similar fawn-colored stripe on their outer edge. There are also three or four black oblique streaks on the fore-wings, and generally a black dot on the white stripe. The engravings of this insect are the work of Mr. C. J. Beale, of Toronto, Out. That of the pupa and larva are adapted, with some alterations, from the excellent designs of Professor Townend Glover, of Washington. But the beautiful figure of the moth was engraved by Mr. Beale from a specimen in my own collection, and is an admirable fac simile of the original insect.

QUEBEC CURRANT WORMS.

BY G. J. BOWLES.

Iii May last I became the tenant of a house in a central part of the city of Quebec. To this house is attached a garden, which contains a few plum trees, and a considerable number of currant and gooseberry bushes. The plants, however, are very old, and as the garden has been neglected, noxious insects have increased and multiplied to no small degree. I intend in this paper to give my experiences as regards the currant and gooseberry bushes, leaving the rest till another time, and trust that I shall be able to add something to the history of the insects, unfortunately too common, which infest these small fruits. N o sooner had the currants and gooseberries expanded their leaves, than I observed, here and there upon them, a few green caterpillars about half an inch or more in length,which seemed to be in a healthy and flourishing condition. I did not molest them, feeling rather pleased at the idea of having something of the kind to so near as I intended after when study home ; and looking them they had grown larger, I did not examine them very closely. In a few days, however, these green caterpillars had disappeared, but the bushes swarmed with another larva, which, to my surprise, I soon found to be those of the notorious currant saw-fly (Nematus ventricosus.) Whether or not the green ones I first noticed were larvae- of this in their last I cannot but if species stage, now say ; they were, it certainly is a corroboration of Mr. Saunders' conjecture, that some individuals hybernate in that state. The currant unfolds its leaves very quickly, and these green caterpillars (which were not geometers), made their appearance almost as soon as the bushes were covered with foliage. Their disappearance so soon afterwards is also a fact which would favor the idea of their being the larva? of this sawfly. a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

By the middle of June, the spring brood of ventricosus swarmed on the red currants and gooseberries, almost stripping the leaves from some of the bushes. Larvae of all ages and sizes, from one tenth of an inch to an inch in length,might be found upon a single leaf; some in their old coats of green and black, and some of the largest in their new ones of green only. At the same time the pretty speckled caterpillars of Ellopia (Abraxis) rib'aria, Fitch, appeared in almost equal numbers. They were more common, however, on the black and red currants than on the gooseberries. The fact of this larva thus feeding on the black currant, disproves the assertion of that eminent entomologist, the late Mr. Walsh, who states [see Am. Entomologist, vol. 2, page 13] that none of the currant worms attack that plant. As the fruit was not ripe, I did not wish to apply hellebore, but set all hands to wT ork picking off the depredators, and dropping them into a basin of water. In this way at least a pint of larvae of both species were gathered daily for a week, and a very apparent diminution made in their numbers. About the 20th June, I began to find cocoons of ventricosus, some fastened singly to the surface of a leaf, some in groups of two or three in the forks of the branches. Of these I gathered sixteen, and having put them in a bottle, in about ten days twelve flies emerged, the remaining four dying in their cocoons, as I subsequently ascertained. These twelve specimens were all males, and I also noticed the males about the bushes several days before the females appeared, although I searched carefully for the latter. At length, about the middle of July, I detected the females on the under side of the leaves laying their eggs in the usual manner, and killed many while engaged in this operation. As soon as the fruit had been picked, I dusted the bushes with hellebore, and found it to be, as re- ported, a .^)?c//?>,completely destroying the ventricosus larvae which came in contact

with it, though it did not seem to be so effective in the case of the Ellopia. By the end of July, the saw flies [see accom- Fig. 4. panying figure of sawfly, magnified] and their larvee had been very much reduced in number,and the geometers which had escaped destruction had passed into the pupa state. On searching at the roots of the bushes, I found many of these pupae naked in the earth, and a few days afterwards the moths began to appear in great numbers. The net now came into use, and catching half a dozen at a sweep was an ordinary affair, when clouds of them would rise on disturbing a bush. After killing some hundreds in this way, they gradually disappeared, and my two friends were invisible for the rest of the season, with the exception of a few larvae of ventricosus] which I THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 9

now and then discovered, some even in October. I had occasion during that month to remove two of the gooseberry bushes which had been infested, and although I carefully examined the earth from their roots, I could not find any sawfly cocoons. About the same time I examined a dying plum tree which grew near, the bark of which was loose and full of holes, in which, as well as in the forks of the branches within three feet from the ground I discovered many of them. From this it might be inferred that these larva? do not invariably seek the earth before pupating in autumn, but sometimes follow the example of their predecessors, and construct their cocoons in a sheltered place above ground.

I have made enquiries as to the extent of the depredations of these two insects in this vicinity, and find that in some gardens the ventricosus has not yet appeared. Where it has gained a footing, however, it is a worse enemy than the Ellojyia, though the latter is often very numerous and destructive. It seems to be admitted that an imported insect, in America at least, soon becomes a greater pest than the native which attacks the same plant.

r Nor w ere these the only foes I had to contend with. In July^geria tipuli-

formis [see fig. 5] came out by dozens, in its pretty dress of steel blue and gold,but met with no mercy despite its beauty. The red currant bushes, which had stood in the garden for a long time, were examined in autumn, and nearly every twig found perfo- Fig. 5. rated by this little enemy. I also found a dead pupa of this moth in a stem of white raspberry growing near, within a burrow about three inches in length, which the larva had excavated in the pith, While searching for the cocoons of ventricosus in the currant bushes, I found several pretty chrysalids, which I secured. The moth these produced was Angerona Crocaotaria, Guene'e, and as I shortly afterwards captured some caterpillars of the same species on the red currant, I am able to give a partial history of the insect. I am, however, indebted to Mr. Saunders, of London, Ontario, for of the and he descriptions egg newly-hatched— larva, having kindly placed his notes at my disposal. They are as follows:

"On the 27th of June, a female laid in a box in which she was confined, about 220 eggs. They were laid in patches or clusters on different parts of the box, containing each from 10 to 40 or 50 eggs. When first deposited, they were yellow, but in a day or two afterwards they changed to a bright red, and on the 4th July some which were about to hatch had turned greyish-brown, soon after which the young larvae made their appearance. Some still remained red at this date (4th), but all changed to greyish brown before the appearance of the larvae. They were all hatched by the 7th of July. "Egg: oval, v,ii\i a depression above; length, -03 of an inch; greatest width -02 inch. The depression above in each egg led me to think that they were barren and drying up, but in this I was agreeably disappointed. Surface nearly smooth under an ordinary magnifier, but under a power of 45 diameters there appear a number of very shallow, small depressions over its whole surface. 10 111 JO CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

" hatched larva : -10 inch head Newly length, ; rather^arge, bilobed, pale brown with a few fine short hairs and several black dots on each side. Body above, dull yellowish-green, with a dark brown stripe on each side, about half T way towards spiracles. Below this the sides of the body are paler,with a whitish bloom over the surface. There are a few short brownish hairs, most numerous on terminal segment. Under surface pale whitish, with a dusky patch of red about the base of the two pairs of prolegs. Feet and prolegs pale, semi- transparent." 1.50 to 1.75 inch Mature Larva (Quebec.) Fed on red currant. Length, ; in size body gradually increasing from head to prolegs ; general colour, yellowish green. Head square and flattened above, with three longitudinal purplish brown and whitish stripes, which are continued on first segment. There are also two small projections like rudimentary antennae, one on each side of head, -03 long.

Body yellowish-green, an indistinct whitish dorsal line, a rather broad whitish line on each side, just below spiracles, bordered above with faint purple, which increases in depth of colour towards the posterior rings, and becomes a purple stripe on anal prolegs, forming a resemblance to an inverted A- Beneath, same colour as above, but with faint interrupted longitudinal lines. Spiracles white, bordered with purple. Above, on each segment, from 2nd to 7th inclusive, are five minute black dots (four in a square and one in front towards the head), and all the rings have a yellowish band on the swelled part where the succeeding segment is inserted. Legs pale green. The pupa is -50 to -60 inch, in length, and of a dark olive green colour, with the exception of the abdomen, which is pale greenish yellow, and has a row of black dots on each side, and another dorsal row. The wing cases are very prominent, and from their strong contrast with the abdomen in colour make the a chrysalis pretty object. I found them fastened by the tail, and reposing in a slight net-work of silken threads, with which the caterpillar had drawn the of a edges currant leaf half way together, so as to form a kind of cradle. The structure could not be called a cocoon, in fact the chrysalis, which is very lively, had wriggled itself out of its bed in some cases, and hung outside fastened only the by tail. The moth appeared in July, from 10 to 14 days after pupating. It will be seen that it emerges somewhat earlier in the season at Quebec than at London, judging from the dates given by Mr. Saunders. On the 28th June, I took a Grapta larva, almost full grown, from a red currant and bush, after feeding it a few days it became a pupa, and duly produced the butterfly, which, after some hesitation, I have referred to Grapta 2^ogne. Mr. Saunders says that "it approaches very near to faunus, but resembles progne still more, though the markings are deeper and richer than usual." The following is a description of the larva:— Mature Larva: Fed on red currant; length l-30th inch; cylindrical; general color, yellow. ?HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 I

Head: Medium, flattened, reddish, a blackish triangular spot in front, and a wedge-shaped one on each side, some short whitish hairs, and two black branching horns, mandibles black. with narrow black and lines small Body: Striped transversely yellow ; thorns on second segment; six branching spines each on third and fourth

seven each on viz. : three on one each segments ; remaining ones, back, yellow; side, orange; and one each side, below spiracles, yellow, out of an orange tubercle; spiracles black, encircled with yellow. Four small black dashes on

upper part of each segment, viz. : two on each side above second row of spines, and extending backwards diagonally towards each other. Feet reddish, with a black mark on outer side. When at rest, the caterpillar often coils round the stalk of a leaf, with the hinder part of its body raised in the air. The general colour of the chrysalis is dark umber brown, slightly mottled with a lighter shade. It has a silvery spot on under side between thorax and abdomen, and is suspended by the tail. The caterpillar became a chrysalis on the 3rd of July, and the perfect insect emerged on the 13th. On the 3rd of August my attention was drawn to a small black-currant bush by its peculiar appearance. On a closer examination, I found a number of geometric caterpillars,which were resting themselves in their customary manner, by clinging to the branches with their anal legs, and holding their bodies extended. At a little distance they closely resembled the bare stalks of leaves, and it was this resemblance which led me to seek the cause of the bush being affected in such a manner. I gathered twenty-four of these caterpillars, which were all nearly full grown, and fed them on black-currant leaves in a box of earth; but by the 7th of August they had all descended and changed to pupa? on or just beneath the surface of the ground, without forming any cocoon. The following is a description of this larva: — Mature larva: Fed on black currant; length 1.75 to 2.00 inches; nearly cylindrical, gradually enlarging to posterior extremity; general color, pea green. Head: Greyish green, strongly bilobed. Body: Pale green, with a darker green interrupted dorsal line, and indistinct broken transverse lines of same color; a yellow cross line on posterior end of each segment, and two small tubercles on second segment close to head. The body is also dotted with very small whitish tubercles, and a few short black hairs -04 inch long; spiracles reddish; feet pale green. Some of the largest of these larva? had a small brown tubercle on each side in front of each spiracle on segment before first pair of prolegs, and a purplish brown ridge on last segment from one spiracle to the other.

The pupa is -GO to -70 inch long, very stout, and of a dark brown color, with a strong point or thorn at the end of the abdomen. With this exception, it has nothing to distinguish it from that of many of the Bombyciche. The abdomen is slightly flexible.

These pupa) had remained so long in the earth (since August last), without producing the moth, that I became impatient, and brought a few in a small box 12 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

into a warm room, hoping to hasten their development. On the 2nd of April, I was rewarded by finding in the box a very fine female specimen of that handsome grey geometer, Amphidasys cognataria, Guenee, which had escaped from one of alive since 1864. the chrysalids, and was the first of the species I had seen I had thus no less than six different species preying upon my currants and gooseberries, viz.: Wematus ventricosus, Ellopia ribearia, JSgeria tipuliformis, Angerona crocaotaria, Grapta progne, and Amphidasys cognataria. Of these, the saw-fly, Nematus ventricosus, was decidedly the most destructive. There is still another insect, a dipterous fly, which I have not yet seen in my garden, but observed in others some years ago, and which lives in the fruit of the red and white currant. The history of this fly I hope to investigate during next summer.

HINTS TO FRUIT GROWERS.

Paper No. 1. BY. V. KAUNDEES, LONDON, ONT.

To make the Extomologist more interesting and useful to fruit growers, it is intended to devote a page of every number issued during the summer season to giving practical hints in reference to insects whose times of appearance may be near at hand, with a condensed summary of such means and remedies as have been found most serviceable in lessening the numbers of such as are injurious. We shall be glad to receive communications from fruit growers, relating to any new insect pests occurring in their neighborhood. The Plum Curculio {Conotrachelus nenuphar). Now is the time to try Rausom's method of trapping the curculio. It may be practiced any time during May and continued with success till early in June. Have the ground made quite smooth and clean for several feet around the base of the tree, and place a few pieces of chip, bark or shingle close around and against the trunk. These will afford convenient hiding places for the insect. They should be turned over and examined once or twice a day, when the curculios will be found attached to the under side, and they can be picked off and destroyed. It is not expected that this will supersede jarring entirely, but will no doubt, if persevered in, prove a valuable means towards lessening the numbers of this terrible foe to plum culture. The Tent Caterpillar (Olisiocarnjja americatta). The ring-like nests of eggs of this species, so common on the twigs and small branches of fruit trees, are now hatched, and the young caterpillars forming webs in which to shelter themselves. If allowed to proceed and grow without interference, they will soon strip the branches of the trees on which they are located entirely bare, and thus produce an unsightly deformity as well as check the vigor of the tree. Where the affected branches are low, the webs may be removed by the hand and the THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Uo

insects crushed, and where they are high, the nests may be brought down by means of a pole with a bunch of rags tied to the extremity. The black Cherry Aphis {Aphis cerasi). This disgusting looking little creature begins to appear almost as soon as the foliage is expanded, and multi- plies so fast that the under side of the young leaves are soon almost entirely covered with them, and the growth stunted by their continual puncturing and sucking of the juices.

Drenching the tree with weak lye, strong soapsuds, or tobacco water, are remedies which have been used with success; but probably nothing is better than the means which Nature employs to keep these creatures within bounds—

that is, by the multiplication of their natural enemies. If we assist Nature in T this way by introducing into their midst a few Lady Birds, w e shall find their numbers soon decrease; for the Lady Birds feed on the Aphis incessantly, as well in the larval or caterpillar stage of their existence as in the perfect beetle state; and when they have abundance of food they multiply very fast. Figures are here given of some of our common species: — Figure 6 is the larva of a Lady Bird. Figure 7 represents the species known as the 13 spotted Lady Bird {HippodawAa \?> maculata)] and Figure 8 the 9 spotted Lady Bird (Coccinella 9 notata).

G. Fig. Fig-. 7. Fig 8. The Bud-moth Caterpillar (Grapholitha oculana). Be on the look out for- tius mischievous little creature— a tiny, pale, dull-brown worm, which is fond of locating itself about the base of the blossom buds where, tying the various r flow ers or newly-formed fruits together with silken threads, it revels on their substance, soon causing them to blacken and wither. To the amateur fruit grower,whose garden and crop is comparatively small, these are often particularly annoying, and destroy hopes fondly cherished. We know of no better plan than that of hunting this creature out and destroying it by hand. Its presence is soon made apparent by the unhealthy and withered look of the affected buds. Figure 9 represents both the caterpillar and moth of this species. -+•--

LONDON BRANCH OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.

The regular monthly meeting of the London branch Was held on Tuesday evening, the 3rd ult., at the residence of the Vice-President, Mr. J. H. Griffiths, A report of the proceedings of the Pareut Society at the Toronto meeting was given by Messrs. Reed and Saunders, in all of which the members heartily 1 1 41 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

concurred. The requisite alterations were then made in the by-laws to bring them into conformity with the new constitution. Mr. W. Saunders read a letter from Mr. J. T. Whiteaves, Secretary of the Natural History Society, of Montreal, stating that Mrs. Ritchie had accepted the offer of the London branch for the purchase of the cabinet of insects belonging to the late Mr. A. S. Ritchie. Several of the members brought with them excellent microscopes, which added greatly to the interest of the proceedings. Many entomological objects were thus submitted to high magnifying powers, and the marvellous details of their structure clearly shown.

— * . ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS.

[paper no. 4.] by w. saunders, london, ont.

The eggs of tlie Vaporer Moth, Orgyia leiicostigma.

Attentive readers of the Entomological portion of the late Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the Province of Ontario, will have noted the fact already well known to Entomologists that the female moth of this species is wingless, and lays her eggs on the outside of the cocoon from which she has escaped. Last fall the moths were unusually common, and their nests of eggs are now so abundantly distributed among our fruit trees, that unless some effort is made to destroy them, the larvae will probably be exceedingly numerous and destructive during the approaching season. 10 Fig. represents the full grown caterpillar of this species, which, when about to change to chrysalis, selects a leaf on which to undergo its next transformation, and this in such a position that, while the chrysalis is firmly attached to it on the one side, it is firmly secured by silken threads to the under side of a

branch on the other, thus se- curing the leaf from falling to the ground in the autumn. The female, after its the escape from coccon, rarely moves more than a few inches from it, waiting the attendance of the male moth, after which she at once commences t;» place her eggs in the position already indicated. But how are the eggs, when laid, kept in their place on the top of the cocoon 1 Dr. Fitch says that the eggs are extruded in a continuous string, which is folded and matted together so as to form an irregular mass. ( >n removing this mass of eggs from its place of attach ment, the surface of the cocoon appears covered with fragments of a transparent gelatinous looking substance, which has evidently bem applied in a fluid state. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 15

The bottom layer of eggs will usually number 100 or more, and their interstices are well filled with this same gelatinous substance, which adheres so strongly to the eggs that when the nest is torn open they cannot be separated without bringing away portions of this material firmly attached. Another irregular layer of eggs is placed on this, then a third, and sometimes a fourth, before the total uumber is exhausted, and through the whole of these the gelatinous matter is so placed as to secure every egg, not by being imbedded in a solid mass, but surrounded by the material worked into a spongy or frothy state. Possibly this may be to economize the amount used. Over all is a heavy layer of the same with a nearly smooth greyish white surface, the wdiole number of eggs being placed so as to present a convex surface to the weather, which effectually prevents the lodgement of any water on it. Within this enclosure are deposited from 375 to 500 eggs. We give these numbers because we have counted the contents of several, and 375 is the lowest number and 500 the highest we have found. The egg— is nearly globular, flattened at the upper side— not perceptibly hollowed with a dark point in the centre of the flattened portion surrounded by a dusky halo. Its surface is smooth under a magnifying power of 45 diameters; but when submitted to a higher power, appears lightly punctured with minute dots. Its color is uniformly white to the unaided vision; but the microscope reveals a ring of dusky yellow surrounding it immediately below the flattened portion. Its diameter is l-25th of an inch.

A careless observer seeing a dead leaf here and there upon his trees might readily conceive that it was accidentally blown into the position it occupied, and perhaps held there by a spider's web or something of that sort; but as will be seen from what we have said, a closer examination will furnish food for thought, in the wise arrangements made by the parent moth in providing for the safety of her future offspring; and at the same time may well excite alarm in the fruit grower's mind when he perceives promise of the approaching birth of such a horde of hungry caterpillars as even one of these will produce.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Coleopteea. — The following notes upon the localities fur finding certain species of Coleoptera, all taken in April, in Massachusetts, may be of some use to collectors:— Under much decayed butternut bark were found Omosityt, colon, Hister Lecontei, Ips fasciatuSjPIienolia grossajCucujus clavipes, and Cossonus platalea. About fresh-cut maple and birch stumps where the sap was flowing, Ipsfascia- tuSj and sanguinolentus, and Staphylinidce of various species. Under loose pine bark, Boros unicolor and Rkagium lineatum. Around fresh cut pine wood where the pitch was oozing out on sunny days, Tomicuspini, Hylurgus terebrans, Pissodes strobi, Hylobias pales, Clerus nigripes, and trifasciatus, were very abundant. 1(5 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

To collect those species of Scolytidm and Curculionidcs that live upon successful to out at dusk after a pine, it will be found very go just sunny day, when they have taken refuge under the chips about fresh cut pine wood-piles. They can then he taken in abundance—Geo. Dimmock, Springfield, Mass.

Omission.—A valuable paper by V. T. Chambers, Esq., of Covington, — one of our Canadian Kentucky, U.S., on "A New Species of Ceniosloma" —was received too late for Micro-lepidoptera, belonging to the family Tineina insertion in the present number, but will appear in our next, which we hope to issue during the month.—Ed. Can. Ent.

REMITTANCES

RECEIVED SIXCE JANUARY 1ST, 1871. -

J. G. G., Toronto, $1; R. V. R., Kingston, $6; G.D., Springfield, Mass., .$2.24; T. L. M., New York, $1.12; 0. S.W., Chicago, $3.37; J. P., Grimsby, $2; Dr. M., Grimsby, $2; A.S.F., New York, $1.80; V.T.C., Covington, Ky., $1.12; Dr. E.S.H., Grand Rapids, Mich., §4; Dr. G., Bayfield, §1; J.M.J., Halifax, N.S., 83; W.H.E., Toronto, $1; J.B., San Francisco, Cab, $4.45; C.J.S.B., Port Hope, $1; N.II.C, Stratford, $2; P.S.M., Detroit, Mich., $1. EXCHANGES, &c. Lepipoptera. — Canadian Lepidoptera desired in exchange for British. II. News Ont. E. Collins, Daily office, Kingston,— Pup.£ and Ova of Lepidoptera. I am desirous to obtain, if possible, live Pupa? and Ova of certain Canadian and other North American Lepidoptera. Would purchase, or give in exchange, English or other European species. —Ciias. Geo. Rotheram- Websdale, 7S High-street, Barnstaple, England. Coleoptera axd Lepidoptera.—I have a few Cychrus Andrewsii andBidingsii, which I should like to exchange for rare Canadian insects: Lepidoptera preferred.— Theodore L. Mead,— 596 Madison Avenue, New York. Coleoptera. I should be pleased to exchange coleoptera—with some Canadi »n Coleopterists, or would purchase species not found in my locality. Andrew S. Fuller, Woodside Garden, Ridge wood, Bergen Co., N. J. AGENTS FOR THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada.—E. B. W. G. J. Reed, London, Ont.; Couper, Naturalist, Montreal, P.Q. ; Bowles, Quebec, P.Q.; J. Johnstcn, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States.—ff he American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; J.Y. Green? Newport, Vt.; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadway, New York. ADVERTISEMENT. — Corks and Pins. We have received a fresh supply from England, of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 1G cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of s Klaeger pins, No's. 1 to 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express. (% Canadian ^ntomolopf.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., JUNE, 1871. NO. 2.

TO OUR FRIENDS.

We very much regret that the new type with which the present number is printed did not reach us in time to be used for No. i. There had been so much delay in beginning the volume, that we thought it best to use such material as we had at command rather than postpone its commencement longer. The printing and general appearance of our little monthly is now as near perfection as we can hope to reach, and will in future be uniform. We trust all our readers will show their appreciation of our efforts to improve the Entomologist by sending a few more names to add to our increasing list of and should also feel if those of onr old membership ; we obliged members whose annual subscriptions are not yet paid would remit to the Treasurer as promptly as possible.

When issuing our last number, we printed an unusually large edition, intending to send a copy to every person in Ontario known to be interested in Entomology directly, or indirectly as agriculturists or horticulturists, with the hope of largely increasing our list of subscribers. When mailing we found our surplus copies not sufficient for the purpose, and intend printing an extra number of the present issue, which we shall send to all those who did not receive No. i. P'or the benefit of such we append the contents of our first number, of which we still hold sufficient to supply new subscribers :

Constitution of the Entomological Society of Ontario. Editorial.

The Plum Sphinx Moth, with 3 illustrations. Currant Worms, with 2 illustrations. Hints to Fruit Growers, with 3 illustrations. Entomological Gleanings, with 1 illustration. Miscellaneous Notes, &c.

Subscriptions, one dollar ($1.25 in U. S. currency) per annum, should be sent to the Secretary, E. B. Reed. Esq., London, Ont. >•> THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

ON THE LARVA OF THE PEACH BORER.

( Egeria Exitiosa. )

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

The accompanying figure, No. n, is a faithful representation of the larva of the Peach tree Borer, an insect which in some localities is so injurious and abundant as to sadly interfere with successful peach culture. The grub from which this woodcut was prepared was found in com-

xo. 11. pany with several others early in March, in some (rummy matter lying on the soil immediately surrounding a peach tree. One, which was somewhat smaller than the rest, was dug out of its bored channel in the tree, where it was still feeding. The following description will, we hope, enable any one to distinguish thus pest beyond doubt when it is met with : Its head is of a medium size, with a depressed line down the centre dividing it into two lobes. It has a triangular piece inserted in the middle, with its base towards the mouth, and its apex terminating just under the anterior edge of the second segment. The head is also flattened, and of a reddish color, becoming darker, almost black, on its anterior edge. The jaws are black and prominent. The body above is of a dull pale yellow, with the segments or rings of the body rather deeply cut. The second segment is of a pale reddish brown color, smooth and horny looking. On each segment there are a few minute pale reddish dots, from which arise short reddish or brownish hairs—those along the sides and on the posterior extremity being somewhat longer. A faint line runs along each side through the stigmata or breathing pores of a paler shade than the rest of the body. The stigmata are small, nearly round, and of a dull reddish color. The under surface is very similar in color to the upper. The feet are with tipped reddish brown, and theprolegs are pale yellow, with the fringe of hooks, crowning each of a dark reddish brown. The grub becomes a chrysalis early in the spring, from which the wasp- like moth is in produced late June or early in July, which, soon after pairing, lays its eggs on the bark of the trunk of the tree, near its base. Here the young grubs, as soon as hatched, e.it their way to the inner bark, and commence their work of destruction.

To prevent the moths from depositing their eggs, some recommend THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 23

mounding the trees well up with earth, two or three feet high, early in June others brush the trunk and main branches over with soft soap, reduced with water so as to bring it to about the consistence of paint.

A NEW SPECIES OF CEMIOSTOMA.

(Micro-Lepidopteni) Thieina. )

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KV.

[Some little time ago Mr. Chambers sent us a specimen of the insect referred to in the following communication, and desired our opinion respecting its specific position. Being unable to give any definite opinion on the matter, as we know but little of the Micro-Lepidoptera, we sent his note and specimen to Mr. Stainton, the great English authority on the Tineina. He very kindly examined the specimen, —and communicated his views respecting it, through us, as noticed below. Ed. C. E.]

Your letter reached me just as I was starting to an adjoining county where a term of Court has detained me until now. As you request, I send a notice of the Cemiostoma for the Canadian Entomologist. I am

satisfied that it is a new species, and call it C. Albrfla. It is of a glistening snowy white. There is a small tuft on the head,— the antennae pale fuscus with the apex and basal joint, white. On the costa beyond the middle is a pale golden streak, dark margined on both sides, obliquely placed, pointing towards the anal angle, but not produced to it : towards the apex, on the costa, is another larger pale golden spot, with slightly diverging sides, but

faintly dark margined posteriorly, though distinctly so anteriorly. The apical spot is shining silvery gray metallic with very distinct black margins

and behind it. at the base of the is an indis- anteriorly posteriorly ; cilise, tinct pale golden streak, which on the costal margin touches a small fuscus spot in the cilia, but which does not touch the dorsal margin. There is a minute indistinct fuscus spot at the apex of the cilise. Abdomen white, banded above with golden fuse us.

This would seem to be intermediate between C, Susinetla, Higa, and C. Spartifoliella, Stainton, approaching more nearly to the former. Possibly " it may prove to be what the late Mr. Walsh would have termed a phyto- phagic species," or variety of the former. I have never seen either of those species, and I compare this insect only with the descriptions of those " species contained in Stainton's Tineina."' The description there given of Susinetta is very brief, and Albella differs from it in not having the 24 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

first to the anal in a costal streak produced angle ; having pale golden streak in the cilice, behind the apical spot, which is not mentioned by

Stainton, and in having only two faint fuscus spots in the cilice, one of them at the apex very indistinct, instead of two ciliary fuscus streaks pointing upwards, as Stainton says of Susinella ; and still more in having a distinct tuft on the vertex, whilst, according to Stainton, C. Scitclla is the only known species which possesses such a tuft, and Scitclla cannot be mistaken for this. It is also clearly distinct from C. Spartifoliclla and C. Z.abumclla, although it strongly resembles them.

The larva mines the leaves of the silver-leaved and Lombardy poplars, (P. Alba and P. Dilatata.) Susinella mines the leaves of P. Trcmula and these are the only known poplar-feeding species. It leaves the mine in the latter part of September, and spinning about them small cables of the purest white silk, it spins its cocoon beneath them and becomes a pupa in the fall, the imago emerging in the next April. Tne cocoon is oval, flat, and snowy white. According to Stainton Spartifoliclla is the only species which forms its cocoon in such situations.

If, as 1 believe, this insect is distinct from Susinella. it has not yet been observed in Europe. Yet as both of the trees upon which it feeds are imported species, Albclla is probably a European insect. So far as I am informed this is the first time that any species of Cemiostoma has been observed in this country, and yet Albclla is very abundant on both P. Alba and P. dilatata, and it is strange that it has not been observed both in this country and in Europe, if it is found there. The mine is very conspicuous, and sometimes the upper and lower cuticles of the entire leaf are separated, and the leaf deadened, but in such cases several larvae are found in it.

Up to the date of the publication of Vol. 1. of Stainton's Tineina but six species of Cemiostoma had been observed, all of which were found upon the European continent, but only three of which had been observed in England. Susinella, which approaches most nearly to Albclla, has never been yet found in England, but I believe that since the publication of that work two new species have been discovered in England, and one or two in India.

A of single specimen Albclla Avas sent to Mr. Stainton, (by your kindness,) who writes that he is inclined to separate it as a distinct species, but that he cannot be as the positive, specimen was slightly injured. Among tour examined I specimens by me cannot discover the slightest difference. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 25

P. S. —As no one except myself, so far as I know, is giving much attention to our ''Micros,' and as I have a good many new, beautiful and interesting species, if you desire it I shall occasionally notice them in the Ento- MOI OGIST.

[We shall be very glad to receive our Correspondents communications, and trust that he will follow up the— work so well begun by the late lamented Mr. Brackenridge Clemens. Ed. C. E.]

HINTS TO FRUIT GROWERS.

Paper No. 2. By Wm. Saunders, London, Ont.

The gooseberry saw fly Ncmatus Vcntricosus. The season of warmth and growth having opened this year early, this never-failing pest has put in its appearance also in advance

of previous years : as early as the 23rd of April I found the insect on the wing preparing to deposit its eggs as soon as the foliage was sufficiently expanded. Our last number contained— an enlarged figure of the fly See fig.

4.) We now give a representation of the larva in its natural

position, feeding on the leaves.

(See fig. 12.) The fly deposits itswhite eggs in long regular rows on the under side of the leaves,

Fig. 1: chiefly on the larger veins, where they speedily hatch, and the hundreds of voracious worms resulting are soon scattered all over the bushes. Already, May 15, the eggs are very numerous, and here and there may be found a colony of larvae. These latter, while young, feed in company, from 20 to 40 on a leaf, which is soon riddled with the small holes they at first make, but in a few days they increase in size, and parting company spread in all directions. By keeping a close watch, and picking off the eaten leaves early in the season, the evil will be much lessened, but where the worms are numerous

there is nothing so good as Powdered Hellebore, which may be readily and economically applied by mixing an ounce (previously rubbed up 26 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

with a little water to prevent its being lumpy) in a pail of water, and showering it over the bushes with a watering pot. Many people are timid about using hellebore while the fruit is on, for fear of its finding lodg- ment there in quantities sufficient to produce unpleasant consequences when the fruit is eaten, but if applied in the way just mentioned there need be no apprehensions on this point.

The Plum Cureulio. Although we referred to this insect in our last, it will not do to pass it over in silence now, for by the time this reaches the eyes of our readers the young fruit will have formed, and jarring should at once begin and be steadily kept up every evening until the fruit is pretty well grown. The severe frost we have had has considerably injured the plum blossoms in this western section, and we believe that the crop will consequently be light, hence plum growers should be on the alert and dis- " " pute possession with the little Turk from the very beginning. The most convenient form of sheet to spread under the trees is that made with two pieces of cotton of the requisite size, stitched only half way up the middle, so as to allow the tree to pass to the centre, and having a strip of

r w ood attached to each of the outer edges, so that it may be conveniently handled. Small trees may be jarred with the hand, larger ones should a have branch cut off, leaving a stump which may be struck with a mallet, or else have a hole bored in

the tree, and a broad-headed iron spike inserted, which may be struck with a ham- mer. The accompanying figure 13 shows the Cureulio in its different stages of larva.

ir, chrysalis />, and perfect insect c; the hair lines alongside of each object shows its natural size d a ; represents Cureulio working on a young plum in which one has been esg&!D alreadyj deposited.' Fig. 1:1

' The Codling Moth Carpocapsa ponwiiella. This insect, so destructive to the apple, usually appears in Ontario from the middle to the end of June, but 'the season having opened earlier this year than common, we may look for them in the beginning of the month, and in a fortnight later they will be probably busy depositing their eggs about the eyes of the young apples. Excellent traps may be made for them out of common bottles—widemouth ones — preferred by partly filling them with a mixture of vinegar and water, well sweetened with sugar, and having a little rum or other strong smelling THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. '27

of spirit added to it. These may be fastened among the branches the trees with cord or pieces of wire. The insects, being attracted 1>\ the smell of the compound, they are lured into the bottle and drowned, and thus the mischief they were about to perpetrate is nipped in the bud. Later in the season the wormy fruit should be carefully gathered, and either dipped in boiling water to destroy the grubs, or fed to hogs. Fig. 14 delineates the various stages of the insect : a section of apple attacked, b point at which the egg was laid and at which the young worm entered, e the full grown worm, h its head and portion ot body magnified, i the cocoon which it spins, d the chrysalis enclosed in the cocoon, /the perfect insect as it appears when at rest, £ the same with its wings expanded. Borers. June is the month for borers of all kinds, so lookout for your

trees in this is far better than and apple ; prevention instance cure, by taking a little pains now the entrance of the borer may be prevented. Soft soap, reduced with water to the consistence of thick paint, and applied copiously over the trunk, and a short distance up the main branches of the will tree, prevent the beetles from depositing their eggs on such at all, and besides will have the effect of cleansing the bark from many other animal and vegetable parasites.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

Compiled by the Editor.

From Kirbfs Fauna Boreali-Americana : Insecta.

(Continued from Vol. II., Page 170. FAMILY HALIPL1D.K.

[This family, usually regarded as a sub-family of the Dytiscidce, is restricted by Leconte to the genera Haliplus and Cnemidotus ; but Kirby, as will be observed, includes it in the genera Hydroporus and Laccop/iihts.~\ 28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

— taken in Lat. 93. Haliplus Impressus, Latr. One specimen 65".

1 Length of body 1 /2 lines, nearly. behind: [66.] Body, reddish-yellow. Head punctured, dusky prothorax curved series yellow, depressed in the middle posteriorly, with a transverse in the there are five or six black dots of punctures depression ; anteriorly at the between the central and the arranged transversely ; base, point margin on each side, an oblique little furrow, but not easily discoverable,

: of black is impressed elytra pale-yellow, with a cinereous tint, nine rows those near the lateral the faintest punctures on each, margin being ; anteriorly, in the interstices of the rows, there are also a few black punctures the of the is in an acute the ; apex elytra oblique, terminating point: * laminae that cover the posterior legs are punctured. [Kirby is doubtful respecting the identity of this specimen with Latreille's species, as though

for it the latter's description agrees with it, his figure does not, represents the elytra with eight black spots, which are not to be found in II. Impressus. Le Conte puts it down as a probable synonym of H. ImmaculicoUis, Harris, a species taken in Canada, and regards its identification with Latreille's species as erroneous.]

94. Hvdroporus Nicro-Lineatus, Stephens. —A pair taken in Lat.

. — 65 Length of body 2*4 in. 2^ lines.

Body lurid-yellow, somewhat glossy, minutely and thickly punctured : antennx dusky at the tip : prothorax with a minute black rhomboidal in the which is marked with a spot disk, punctiform impression ; anteriorly it has a transverse series of punctures larger than those of the rest of its surface : elytra most numerously and minutely punctured : the suture and four longitudinal stripes not reaching the apex, nor the first and third the all black the or is distant from the and base, ; fourth, outermost, margin

interrupted : the alitrunk and abdomen are black. In the female, which is less glossy, the external stripe is continuous, and only the second reaches the base and in the male the is more ; prothorax conspicuously punctured, and the anterior series of punctures is wanting.

[67.] 95. Hvdroporus Parallelus, Say. —One specimen only taken. [Previously described as //. Catascopium Say, and subsequently as II. : For Interruptus Say descriptions vide Say's Ent. Books, ii., 98, 516.560. Taken in Canada.] — 96. Hvdroporus L/evir, Kirby. Length of body 2 lines. One specimen only taken. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 29

Very like the preceding species, but smaller : it differs principally in being perfectly smooth and without punctures, even when examined under a powerful magnifier. The head has two larger vertical lurid-yellow spots, and there is a triangle of the same colour between the eyes, which at its

base is dilated, and occupies the nose and mouth : the prothorax is lurid- the middle towards yellow with two oblong oblique dusky spots beyond ; the base is an obtus-angular transverse impression, and on each side, at a

little distance from the margin, is an oblong punctiform impression : in the

elytra are six distinct narrow black stripes, none of which are confluent at the at the but at distance from the lateral except apex ; side, some margin, are three black spots placed in a line, or a stripe wider than the others

twice interrupted : the legs are testaceous with the posterior tibiae black as a of IT. at the tip. [Placed, with a mark of interrogation, synonym

Diiodecimllneatus, Lee, in Le Conte's list, p. 16.]

— 2 lines. [68.] 97. Hydroporus Picatus, Kirby. Length of body y>

A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 . dark without with an Body, piceous, gloss ; covered, especially above, with a infinity of punctures. Head, obscurely ferruginous, dusky behind,

paler quadrangular spot extending to the mouth, between the eyes : antenna;

ferruginous : prothorax, with its anterior half, ferruginous, marked with a

discoidal punctiform impression or little furrow : elytra, with four posteriorly abbreviated punctured furrows, very difficult to be discerned, and only by

looking on one side from behind : forebreast and legs ferruginous : alitrunk and abdomen black.

* 98. Hydroporus Similis, Kirby. — Length of body 2 3 lines. Taken with the preceding species?

I at first regarded this as the other sex of H. Picatus, but upon inspecting their tarsi I found they were both males. This species is smaller, more in glossy, the parts that that are dark ferruginous, in this are much paler ; the punctures on the upper surface are less numerous and larger, especially those of the basilar half of the elytra, and the four furrows, particularly the three dorsal are and more distinct the disk of the ones, deeper ; prothorax also is transversely levigated and impunctured. Both these insects come very near to //. Piripcs, but that species has not the discoidal impression in the prothorax ; and its elytra are dark testaceous, striped with black.

N.B.- All the above divisions belong to Mr. Stephen's second division has of the family with the sides of the prothorax rounded. [/7. Similis been taken in Canada.] 30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

— of 2 linos. [69.] 99. Laccophilus Biguttatus, Kirby. Length body taken. ( )ne specimen and antennae Body, very smooth, glossy. Head, dirty-yellow ; palpi at the manitrunk manitrunk is that part of the trunk that dusky tip ; (the bears the arms or fore-legs: it includes the prothorax and antepectus), dirty embrowned cinereous, with a line of as in the yellow ; elytra, punctures, a other species, adjacent to the suture, and pale yellow, indistinct, oblong, alitrunk anterior, marginal spot: legs, dirty yellow ; posterior tarsi, dusky; of the of the latter reddish- and abdomen, nigro-piceous ; apex segments is smaller than L. which it yellow. This species minutus, resembles, and the colour of the elytra and underside of the body differs. [Inserted as a of L. in Le Conte's list in Melsheimer*s probable synonym fasciatus Aube, ; Catalogue it is recorded as synonymous with L. proximus Say and L. Ameri- can us Aube.]

- FAMILY DYTISC1 1).* .

100. Colymbetes Semipunctatus, Kirby. One specimen only taken. of lines. Length body 3 J/4

Body oblong, glossy, very black, above very slightly bronzed; under a powerful magnifier the whole upper surface is most minutely reticulated, and the under covered, with longitudinal scratches. Head with a pair of vertical red crescents placed transversely, and scarcely visible except when the sun shines and antennae mandibles ; upper-lip, palpi, ferruginous ; black with a continuous transverse series of ; prothorax, anteriorly marginal punctures, posteriorly with one widely interrupted in the middle, and in the disk with a minute furrow with a dorsal series of ; elytra triple punctures not regularly or singly arranged, with other scattered punctures interjacent, especially towards the apex, on the side the punctures, which are not numerous, are scattered without order; in the sutural series the punc- are distant far tures and single ; beyond the middle of each elytrum, not from the lateral margin, is a red streak, not distinctly visible except in a strong light: the arms are piceous, and the four anterior tarsi ferruginous. to [Belongs Agabus. Taken at Grimsby, Ont., by Mr. Pettit.]

[70.] 101. Colymbetes (Agabus) Bicolor, Kirby. — Length of body lines. 3^ A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 .

Body nearly elliptical, convex, smooth, glossy, and very black. Reti-

culations more visible in the head than in the rest of the surface : a pair of obscure red in round, spots the vertex ; mouth palpi, and antennae testaceous : anterior transverse series of the prothorax with single punctures at THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 31

the sides, but scattered ones in the middle, posterior series continuous, with and rather distant of a single punctures ; elytra, externally pale mahogany colour, with a double series of punctures, not numerous nor which do not reach the there are a few scat- regularly arranged, apex ; very tered punctures besides in the side : legs mahogany-colour.

T02. Colymbetus (Agabus) Ph^eoptkrus Kirby.—Length of body — in Lai. 3j/( 3^2 lines. Two specimens taken 54° Body nearly elliptical, rather depressed, smooth, very black, glossy. Head with a of transverse obscure red in the vertex mouth and pair spots ; antennae testaceous : posterior series of the prothorax thickly punctured, and discontinuous in the middle: elytra brown, a little paler at the base and side: of the like that of C. Semi- epipleura yellow: sculpture elytra , punctaiuS) but fewer punctures in the side: legs ferruginous : body underneath longitudinally scratched. This species appears to be the American representative of C. paludosus (Dytiscus politus Marsh) which it nearly resembles, but the anterior part of the front is black, and not yellow as in that species; and the prothorax is wholly black, without a broad rufous margin. [Placed with a. mark of interrogation as a synonym of Agabus obliteratus Lee, in Le Conte"s List, p. 17.]

— Plate 6. [71.] 103. Colymbetes (Agabus) Bifarius, Kirby. v., fig.

Length of body 3^ lines. A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 . Body oval, smooth, black, less glossy. Head with a pair of vertical red crescents: mouth, antennae and palpi ferruginous: maxillary palpi with the last joint black : prothorax longitudinally acuducted, with the bead of the lateral margin rufous: elytra, at the base longitudinally, at the apex transversely, acuducted: fore-breast. and legs piceo-rufous. — 104. Colymbetes Reticulatus, Kirby. Length of body 3^ lines. Three specimens taken in Lat. 65°. Body oblong, black, gloss obscured from its being covered as it were with a wel) of the finest net work, sculptured as if with the point of a needle. Head with a pair of round red vertical spots: prothorax with a yellow mesal band and lateral margin: elytra dusky-cinereous, with the side yellowish: legs ferruginous. [Not mentioned in either Le Conte's or Melsheimer's Catalogues. ]

105. Colymbetes Picipes, Kirby. Length of body 4 )^ lines. Two

specimens taken, one in Lat. 54°, the other in Lat. 65 . [72.] Body oyal, black, above slightly bronzed,, not glossy, covered above and below like the preceding species with, as it were, a web of net- • >_:W THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

but the reticulations are more minute. and antenna work ; Upper-Kp, palpi

mark the vertex : ferruginous; a pair of oval, minute, obscure red spots of double in the prothorax, with the anterior transverse series punctures middle, the posterior one not easily discernible, discontinuous in the middle : there appear no rows of punctures on the elytra, but a few scattered ones may be discovered: the four anterior legs are piceous. This species approaches C. chakonatus, but it is longer, less glossy, the reticulations of the surface are more distinct, no rows of punctures are discernible, as in that, on the elytra, which, as well as the prothorax, are all of one colour ; and the posterior legs are black. It seems still nearer C. alcr, but it is much smaller, less convex, and has no fenestrated spot on the elytra. [Taken in Canada.]

1 06. ColVmbetes Assimilis, Kirby. —Length of body 5^4 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch.

Body rather depressed, between oblong and obovate, smooth, rather glossy, black, covered above with an infinity of very minute reticulations. Head dirty-yellow; vertex black, with a pair of confluent transverse reddish

spots : prothorax dirty-yellow, rather dusky in the disk, transverse punctures nearly obliterated: elytra of the same colour as the prothorax, but sprinkled with innumerable black dots, which, do not extend to » however, the base and sides; a row of more distant and larger dots adjoins the suture: the fore-breast, the base and apex of the other ventral segments of the abdomen, are dirty yellow; the legs are of the same colour, but the arms are shorter than usual and piceous; the dilated posterior coxae are sculptured with branching rugosities. This species represents C. notaius, which it is very like, but the elytra are wider towards the apex which gives the insect an obovate the black dots of the are more shape ; elytra numerous and minute; the prothorax is without spots; and the arms, or fore-legs, are shorter and of a different colour. [Included under Agabus in Melsheimers Catalogue.]

ENTOMOLOGY. No. 1.

JJV WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL.

The approach of the season for the study of the habits of insects urges me to write a few hints for the guidance of young Canadian beginners. I find that many young persons collect insects more for the sake of recrea- tion and than for pastime the value of the material to aid future investiga TH !•: ( AXA 1 >] AN ENTOMOLOGIST. 33

tion. Occasionally one may meet a tyro who can discriminate insect forms, and possess that peculiar acuteness so essential to the study of

but still he has sad that is, clumsiness in the Entomology ; defects, preparation of his specimens, and want of method. Now, this should be avoided, and the first determination of a young collector who wishes to be successful must be neatness in mounting his specimens, with a zealous regard for the preservation of his cabinet. In order to carry out this determination satisfactorily, the first great requisite is patience, the second is quickness ; but independently of this quality, 1 contend that patience is

the chief gift to make a successful Entomologist. Without it, he cannot grasp an abstruse subject, for being too hasty, his brain wanders to isolated points, magnif/ing them, to the exclusion of other more important ones, whereas he should watch patiently, and record facts as they gradually come before him."'"

It is little use attempting a collection of insects unless the proper appli- ances are at hand to procure and secure the specimens. A proper collecting box should always accompany the net, and delicacy of handling- insects (especially Lepidoptera) practiced in the field. Neatness in arrangement is a home work, but the great secret of having line specimens is in the care taken in first handling. To help the memory, a note book should be carried in the pocket, wherein to record descriptions of the insects taken in his rambles. He will find these notes of great value afterwards, especially when he becomes an advanced student. I have found a held note book indispensible, and would recommend every young collector to take notes of his captures.

1 would also suggest to our intelligent agricultural friends that such note books are highly valuable, should they take the trouble to notice and record such facts as are every season occurring on their farms. Correctly noted books of this description, coming from the hands of intelligent farmers, would be of immense service to Entomology, and would no doubt lead to discoveries which are at present hid in obscurity. Mr. Stainton " says : An agriculturist, knowing nothing of Entomology, thinks that if he is annoyed by some new 'varmin' he has only to apply to some professor to be at once told the best to rid of his foe but of Pmtomology way get ; this is not the best mode to go to work. Those enterprising agriculturists

* " In orderto keep the mind free from prejudice or one-sided views, it is necessary to for one's self we are to that examine and judge ; very apt conclude because another says a be so it be so. but look and for thing is so, it nust ; may we grant, judge yourself ; perhaps vun will had it very different from what yon expected."—Stainton. 34 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

who know how much the safety of their crops depends upon the absence

' of the ravages of the insect hosts, and who know that knowledge is power,' will set themselves to work to obtain a practical knowledge of Entomology, in order that, when they find their wheat or any other crop affected, they may themselves be able to discover the cause of the injury, and apply the proper remedy. The Entomological agriculturist who himself lives on the spot, and sees the smitten crops day after day, will be far better able to

cure the disease (if the disease be a curable one) than the cleverest agriculturist knowing nothing of Entomology would be capable of doing, even after consulting the cleverest Entomologist who knows nothing of agriculture. It is a most necessary part of the education of the agriculturist, that he should be well acquainted with Entomology, and know his friends from his foes. Some assume that all insects are hostile, and are to be indiscri- minately destroyed—about as sane a proceeding as though an ignoramus Avere to pluck up his crop as soon as it appeared above ground, under the impression that what was then making its appearance was only weeds. We can that one could be so as this but hardly imagine any possibly ignorant ; is the ignorance of those who destroy their insect friends one iota greater?" In 1862, when I was elected a corresponding member of the Entomo- logical Society of Philadelphia, I communicated to Mr. Cresson, the secretary, the importance of forming a cabinet of insect architecture in connection with the extensive collections of the Society. I subsequently wrote a short article on the importance of forming a collection of this " nature, and on the 6th May, 1863, Mr. Cresson wrote : We have already started our collection of insect architecture, and if you can contribute any specimens to it we will be very thankful." And on the 15th June, 1863. " he further adds : The cabinet of insect architecture recommended by has you been fully started, and the progress already made bids fair for a large collection."

1 wish Now. to urge the Entomological Society of Ontario to form a similar collection, as it is a most instructive and useful branch of Entomo- logy, serving, when the specimens are properly determined and named, to trace the parent insect to its early mode of working, besides infusing a correct more system of study, and arriving at facts. All the old Entomo- took the logists greatest trouble and care in describing the habitations of insects, and why should we. at this advanced age of Entomological science, confine ourselves to the collecting and study of insects only. Systematists on may go writing books describing insects, larvae, and their habitations -and such, no doubt, are very proper and necessary but I hold that a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 35

thoroughly correct])' named collection of the natural habitations is more instructive than all the pictures or descriptions, however faithful or accurate they may be. Every species of insect has a peculiar mode of working in its early stages, aad there is a kind of non-deviation in the work which a " practical eye can trace, and say : I can name the genus or species which produced that." 1 am fully aware that every Entomologist will not coin- cide with me, nor acknowledge that all Lepidopterous insects belonging to any certain genus produce cocoons of almost similar form, but I believe the they do ; and without dwelling on reason or specific causes for recently transferring the following insects to distinct genera, suffice it to say that they were at one time included under one genus. 1 will now state why 1 should separate them on the structural dissimilarity of their cocoons, for on examining them and comparing them we discover a decided difference in their that is to the cocoon of Attacus is dif- forms, say , cccropia greatly ferent from that of A. polyphemus, and the cocoon of A. /una is to a certain degree not like the latter, while that of A. promeihea is always differently situated and formed from any of the former. To more fully strengthen my argument that almost all species of Lepidoptera copy each other, in the formation of the coverings made by the larva, 1 may mention that a cocoon found by me at Quebec, and which, from its likeness to that of Ctxropia, I took to be that insect, was afterwhrds brought home by Mr. Bowles, and in due time produced Samia Columbia, a new species described by Mr. S. J. Smith in 1865. I could also give similar instances in the great family of Ifymcuoptcra, but I shall leave any further remarks for another paper.

NOTES ON LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVAE.

BY W. SAUNDKRS, LONDON, ONI'.

NOCTTJA CLANDESTINA ( Drury ).

Young specimens of the larva of this species were found last year, about half grown, under chips and logs in open fields early in May. They had evidently wintered in the larval state, and had but lately aroused from their winters sleep. No description of the larva was taken until May 25th, when it was full grown. Length 1-25 inch, cylindrical.

Head : medium sized, flattened, black, with two diverging whitish lines 30' THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

a small a of dots down the front and one across, forming triangle ; patch

sides : with black mandibles of the same color on palpi whitish, tipped ; black.

Body above, dirty brown, with a faint yellowish tinge ; a dorsal line of of a paler hue, and a sub-dorsal yellow line, most distinct from fifth to twelfth segments, nearly obsolete on the anterior ones. The lateral lines are with a dull reddish color below and between from fifth edged ; them, t > twelfth segments, is a series of elongated black spots, one on each side of the dorsal line on each segment, diverging from each other anteriorly, and shaded about their base with yellowish brown. On hinder part of twelfth segment is a patch of yellowish brown, edged behind with black. There is also a broken blackish line running through the spiracles.

Under surface paler, with a greenish shade and a few minute dark brown dots feet with brown ; dull ; black, ringed pale prolegs brown, dotted on the outside and tipped with black. One was much dull and others of a specimen paler, nearly yellow ; much darker shade. One of these became a chrysalis Max 26th. gnophria vittata (Harris).

A spinous larva found under logs early in June in company with larvae of Arctians. Also found occasionally on trees and shrubs later in the month feeds on lichens one found full ; ; specimen grown 30th June. inch head with a small whitish hairs. Length -75 ; black, few with dots and short lines of a Body above, black, sprinkled yellow ; dorsal row of dots from fifth to twelfth color yellowish segments ; paler on brown as it nears the under surface not sides, approaching ; spines simple, all black and from elevated black branched, proceeding slightly tubercles ; in some instances two spines arise from the same tubercle, one shorter than the other.

Under surface brownish feet yellow ; yellow, semi-transparent, lightly streaked with brown ; prolegs yellowish, faintly tipped with reddish brown.

HYPHANTRIA CUNEA ( Dri/ry ).

found in Hairy larva, the middle of a wood under a log. July 14th. Fed it for a short time on lambs quarter, Chenopodium album. inches Length 1-75 ; cylindrical ; head small, bilobed, black and shin- with a faint ing, brownish streak between the lobes, scarcely visible above, and a few short brownish hairs.

Body black, with a slight shade of brown, and sprinkled all over with minute whitish very dots, scarcely visible without a magnifier. On each THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 3

a tuft segment is a transverse row of shining black tuhereles, eaeh emitting of hairs of the same color. ( )n eaeh side, from sixth to twelfth segments inclusive, is a double row of orange-colored spots—those composing the lower row more conspicuous than those in the upper one. There is also a faint eontinuation of these spots on segments anterior to the sixth, but they are scarcely visible to the unaided eye. a feet black The under surface is paler, of blackish brown color ; and

shining : prolegs brownish, with a wide ring of shining black. This larva, in common with most of the Arctians, was very quick in its movements. "When disturbed it would run very fast. It shortly after

entered the chrysalis state, and finally produced the imago ; but the date of its appearance has been lost.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Notes from the Far East. —Nematus ventricosus very abundant here this spring. Pieris rapos the same. Mcloc an jisticollis very abundant on Halifax common about the middle of now May ; totally disappeared. Diptera and Hymenoptcra generally appeared early, and in tolerable

abundance. J. M. Jones.

Halifax, N. S„ June 4. 187 1.

A Prize tor Ontario Entomologists. In June. 1868, when in Brighton, Ontario: a lad brought me from the woods two large living

moths, which I am almost certain were male and female individuals of

Eacles imperialism Drury, (so named by Dr. Packard, but better known as Ceratocampa imperialis.) They had, however, become so rubbed and broken in their efforts to escape, that they were worthless as cabinet specimens. Harris has a description of the several stages of this splendid moth " in his Treatise,"" giving June as the time of its appearance, and the leaves of the buttonwood as the food of the caterpillar. Packard states (Synopsis of the Borhbycidae, U. S.) that the larva has been taken on white pine in Rhode Island. The oak is also mentioned as one of its food plants. The Kntomologists of Ontario should be on the look out for this moth, as it lias not yet been placed on our list of Canadian Lepidoptera, though the allied

is well in the Western Province. G. (• genus Dryocampa represented ; Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.

[Mr. Bowles is not quite correct in his supposition that this is the first capture of E. imperialis in Canada. In 1865 it was included in the 38 TrtK CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Addenda to the Entomological Society's second list of Canadian Lepidop- on the of a near and sent tera, strength specimen captured— Belleville, Ont., us by Prof. Macoun for identification a locality not far distant from heard of other Brighton. We have never any specimens having been taken in this country, hut we trust collectors will be on the look out for this magnificent insect. Drury, the original describer of the species, states that it breeds "twice in the year, in June and September. According to Abbott and Smith, the larva feeds on the plane tree (Platanus occidentalism and some are others and L.) oak, liquidambar pine ; tawny color, tawny others are furnished with and the orange ; green. They long rigid hairs, second and third segments of the body are armed with two pair of short, erect, rugose horns." Dr. Fitch mentions the pine as its almost invariable food plant in the Northern States. We trust Prof. Macoun will keep a his — sharp look-out for the larva during rambles this summer. Ed. C. E.]

Erratum.—In the Cam. Ent., vol. 2, page 157, the dimensions of the " larva of Sesia diffuiis is incorrectly given as length 1-5 to i-7th inches :" it should be 1-5 to 1-7 in.—that is, onc-and-five-tenths to one-and-seven- tenths of an inch. —Theo. L. Mead, New York.

Personal. —Mr. E. G. Sanborn has recently accepted a Professorship in Practical Entomology, in the Bussey Agricultural School of Harvard University, lie will —still continue to be connected with the Boston Society of Natural History. Mr. Theodore E. Mead, of New York, has just started on a three months' collecting tour in Colorado, where he expects to obtain new and rare of insects his address for the many species ; next two or three months will be Denver. Col—Mr. G. VV. Belfrage, of Waco, Texas, has set out on his expedition to New Mexico, as recently advertised in this journal. During his absence shares in his collections may be had at any time by paying the subscription ($25.00) to Swenson, Perkins&i Co., 80 Beaver street, New York. —Mr. C. V. Riley. State Entomologist of has left for a visit his Missouri, England on to native land ; we heartily wish him a pleasant voyage and safe return.

Paimlioxid.-v.. — Mr. Wallace ("On Natural Selection,'' p. 189) states that no less than 130 species of Malayan Papilionidae are now known. The exceeding richness of the Malayan region in these fine insects is seen the by comparing number of species found in the different tropical regions of the earth. From all Africa of are known but only 33 species Papilio ; as several are still undescribed in collections, we may raise their number to about In all 40. tropical Asia there are at present described only 65 in South south species ; America, of Panama, there are 150 species belong- to a ing single genus and eight groups. The Malay species belong to three THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39

and sonic of them are of enormous size, e. genera twenty groups ; g. Ornithoptera Priamus expands 8.3 inches, and O. Helena 7.6 in.

Why?— The grand secret of successful collecting, whether by day, dusk, dark or dawn, lies in one little word- why? If the beginner, instead of clinging persistently to the delusion that the more ground he gets over the better will be the sport, would just ask himself, "Why, here?*' Whenever he captures a decent insect, and would insist on a satisfactory reply or else a give-it-up from his inner man before leaving the spot, we should soon " have a race of real insect hunters. I fancy I hear some one say : Why,

1 ' fool knows that!" and fool will doubtless any Exactly so ; "any keep up his character for stupidity by blundering on and neglecting to act on it.

Where there is one there are more, is true in a general sense : hence the greater reason why the above interrogatory should be answered on the " spot. Why?" here asks a string of questions : Whence from ? Whither bound? Was it a female on the mission of ovipositing?—a male in quest of a virgin female ?—fluttering about its food-plant?—on its way to some neighboring attraction ?—on the wing of pleasure, enjoying the hot sun- shine, the cool shade, or some other congenial atmospheric condition ?— its proper time of flight?—seeking a place of rest?—or, was it disturbed, and in its flew it knew not where?—was it blown the wind flight by against— its will?— under the influence of light?—or after somebody's sugar? Dr.

Knag.g's ("The Lepidopterist's Guide,'' p. 78.)

REMITTANCES

1. — R. Received since issue of Vol. 3, No. M. S. Brighton, $1 J. M.

; J., Halifax, N. S., $1 ; D.W.B., St. Catharines, $1 ; H.B.B., Toronto, $1 Three Rivers. ; Rev. North W. H., Hamilton, $1 V.C., Douro, $3 ; E.G., Rev. P. ; N. ; Allenford, Q., $1 T.W.H.R., Yarmouth, S., $1 D.McL, $1 ;

Clifton, ; Mass., ; A. G.B., $1 R.K., Dundas, $1 ; S.H., Boston, $1 WW.,

: P. S. ; Boston, Mass., $1 ; E.B., Boston, Mass., $1 S., Boston, Mass., $1

; C. S. J. E. C, Holyoke, Mass., $1 ; G. M. L., Indianapolis, Ind., $1 M., Hamil- Mass.. F. H. F.. Needham Mass., ; W. Boston., $1 ; Plains, $1 M.,

ton. $t ; W. H. D,, Boston, Mass., $2 ; J. G. B., Quebec, $2.

EXCHANGES, &c.

Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, &c. -Expecting soon to return to Europe. of I should like to receive in exchange Lepidoptera or Coleoptera Canada 40 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

and the United States for European. As a corresponding member of the Royal Entomological. Malacological and Linnean Societies of Belgium, and an honorary member of the Silk- Supply Association of London, I am desired to procure such species as can be obtained from the United States and Canada. I should especially like to obtain specimens of Silk-worm

Moths : and should also be thankful to receive birds" skins, eggs, and nests for Europe. Early correspondence is solicited, in order to effect agreeable exchanges. Specimens may be sent packed or pinned in cigar-boxes.

J. Q. A. Warren, Chicago, 111. (After June 12th. care of 54 East 12th street, New York, where all parcels may be sent. Lepidoptera. —Canadian Lepidoptera desired in exchange for British. E. H. Collins. Daily Neivs office. Kingston. Out.

Pup.!-: and Ova of Lepidoptera. — I am desirous to obtain, if possible, live Pupae and Ova of certain Canadian and other North American Lepidoptera. Would purchase, or give in exchange, English or other European species. —Chas. Oeo. Rotheram Websdale, 78 High-street. Barnstaple. England.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Canada. E. B. Reed, London, Ont. : W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal.

P.Q.; C J. Bowles. Quebec, P. Q.; J. Johnston, Canadian Institute. Toronto, Ont. United States.- The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.: Y. J. Green, Newport. Vt; W. V. Andrews. Room 17. No. 137 Broadway, New York.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins. We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot: and a full supply of Nos. and Klaeger's pins. i, 2, 5 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500.

1 — Canadian Entomologist, Vols. and 2. We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each. List of Canadian Coleoptera.- Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets.) Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000. for labelling cabinets. Price to cents each set. Orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express. C|e Canadian Entomologist.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., JULY, 1871 NO. 3.

REPORT OF MESSRS. W. SAUNDERS AND E. B. REED, ON THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE—

Doryphora 10 lincata—Say.

London, Ont., June, 187 1.

To the Honorable John Carting, Commissioner of Agriculture and Public

Works for the Province of Ontario :

Sir— In compliance with instructions from your Department, dated " June 10th, 187 i, to visit, without delay, as many of the localities on the Western frontiers of this Province as are most affected by the ravages of the Colorado Potato Beetle to nature and extent of the ; examine the attack to arrest ; make such experiments, with a view to the cure or of the malady, as our observations and judgment might suggest, and to report to your Department the result of our labors, that the same might be submitted to the public forthwith, for general information ;" we beg leave to submit the following Report :—

LOCALITIES.

We have visited a large portion of the Western frontier of the Province, and have also procured reliable information from many other localities throughout Western Ontario, and are thus enabled to form a tolerably accurate estimate of the spread of the insect, and also of the present state of the potato crop in those regions now affected by this pest.

NECESSITY FOR INVESTIGATION.

We are fully satisfied, from personal observation, that the current newspaper reports respecting the enormous numbers of these insects which have crossed into Canada from the State of Michigan are but little, if at and that the evils this all, exaggerated ; resulting from invasion are already of sufficient magnitude to excite serious alarm respecting the safety of a which is so to all classes of the and we crop indispensable community ; 42 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

apprehend that before the close of the season the natural increase of the insect will have extended the mischief throughout the greater portion of Ontario. The prompt action, however, of the Department, in endeavoring to acquaint the agriculturists of the Province with the best remedial measures to be used in this instance, will, we trust, result in effecting a saving of a material portion of the crop, even in the badly-affected districts. In making this Report, we have endeavored to condense it as much as is compatible with the objects we have in view, and to lose no time in placing it in your hands in a plain and popular form. It is intended, in the next annual report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, to give a complete history of the Colorado Potato Beetle from its earliest appearance, with a more detailed account of the mischief it has caused at throughout the country ; and also to treat large of the various other insects injurious to the potato.

THE COLORADO, OR IO-LINED POTATO BEETLE.

FIG. 1.

deep orange; (0) and Venetian Colore—^ (c) red, inclining to cream color; (d) and (?) cream color and black.

1 he accompanying fig. i represents the insect in all its various stages, and will enable the reader to it when a readily recognize found ; a the eggs, which are of a deep orange yellow, and are laid in patches usually containing from to on the underside the thirty forty of leaves ; b b b the larvae at different c the ages ; or d d the beetle chrysalis pupa ; perfect ; e one of the cases to wing enlarged, show the lines more plainly. lhe larva, which is at first dark reddish brown, becomes paler and THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 43

brighter in color as it matures. The head is black, and there is a ring of the same color on the second segment. There are also two rows of black spots along each side. The perfect beetle is of a yellowish cream color, with ten black lines or stripes, running lengthways, and a few black dots on the head and thorax. There are three broods of this insect during each year, the last of which remains in the ground during the winter. Some idea of its enormous rate of increase may be gathered from the fact that each female deposits from 700 to 1000 eggs, and that these attain to the perfect beetle if to state within fifty days, so that the results from a single pair, allowed

increase without molestation, would, in one season, amount to over fifty millions. The insect, in its several forms of egg, larva and perfect beetle, may frequently be found in company on the same potato vine.

ITS NATURAL FOOD.

This insect was originally confined to a comparatively small extent of country, in the region of the Rocky Mountains, where it fed on a species taste of wild potato, Solatium rostratum ; but having suddenly acquired a for the cultivated potato, and adopting that as its principal food, it has gradually spread eastward, until it has invaded our shores. It feeds also readily on many other plants belonging to the order So/anacecE, which includes the tomato and egg-plant as well as the potato—all of interest to the agriculturist—as well as many species of wild plants, such as Black "Henbane, and Datura Stramonium. Hyosciamus niger} Thorn-apple, THE THREE-LINED POTATO BEETLE.

no. FIG. The Colorado, or ten- lined beetle, must not be confounded with the smaller t/iree-\med potato beetle, Lcma trilineata— Oliv. See

colors—Pale figure 2 —which has been black. yellow tt , , , common throughout Cana-

da for many years past, and is, at the present time, unusually abundant in Colors—Dull white. some districts, especially in the neighbourhood of Kincardine. larva of this The beetle (see fig. 3) is smaller, and may be readily distinguished by its disgusting habit of carrying its excrement on its back. 44 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXTENT OF DAMAGE.

We found that the districts most affected by the insect were those portions of the Province situated on the frontier, between Sarnia and

Amherstburgh, and extending inland from twenty to forty miles ; but we have obtained undoubted evidence of the fact, that in smaller but rapidly increasing numbers this pest has spread over a very large portion of the Province, embracing Bayfield to the North, the neighborhood of Toronto to the east, and over almost the entire portion of the western section of the country. It must be remembered, however, that those insects we have seen are of the first brood only, and as the season advances we shall, without doubt, receive reports of great injury sustained in many districts by the succeeding broods. Already several instances have come under our notice of parties who have been so discouraged by the utter destruction of their potato vines, that they have ploughed up entire fields and sown other crops in their place. We anticipate that the large amount of shipping daily passing down the Detroit river, and the continual move- ment of railway cars from affected districts, both in Ontario and the United States, to the eastern portions of the Provinces, will, by affording shelter and means of transport to the beetle, distribute this insect shortly over the entire coast line and portions of the country through which the railways pass. ITS PROBABLE CONTINUANCE.

From all the information we have been able to obtain from competent observers in those Western States which first suffered from the depredations of this foe, we deem it highly probable that we shall have to contend with it for many years to come. In the course of three or four summers oar agriculturists may expect that the insect enemies of this beetle, of wcihh we already know seme nine or ten to exist in Canada, and which prey upon the eggs and larvae, will, in the natural order of things, so multiply as materially to check the further increase of the Colorado Beetle.

is IT POISONOUS?

As many stories are current relating to the supposed poisonous character of this insect, we made it a special point to obtain all the information

possible on this head, and we were unable to find the slightest evidence t ) sustain this popular belief, although we conversed with many persons who had handled and destroyed many thousands of the insects in their different stages, and also handled them freely ourselves with impunity. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 45

We do not know of any insect belonging to the family Chrysomelida, of which this beetle is a member, possessing poisonous properties, hence we deemed it highly improbable, from the first, that there was any truth in the stories so widely circulated, and which have created so much unneces- sary alarm. ARTIFICIAL REMEDIES PARIS GREEN.

The many Entomologists and Agriculturists Avho have experimented on this insect, with various poisonous and other substances, in those portions of the United States where it has been so destructive for some vears past, concur in recommending the use of Paris Green, diluted with flour, ashes or air-slacked lime, as the best remedy known for destroying the insect, both in its larva and beetle state, without injuring the plant. The results of our experiments and investigations confirm this opinion, and this remedy is, no doubt, a reliable one, provided the Paris Green be of good quality. Our experience has also satisfied us that Hour is a much better substance to mix the green with than either ashes or lime, as the insects eat it more readily, and, at the same time, it adheres more tenaciously to the surface of the plant, and hence is not so easily washed off by rain. We found good effects from a mixture of one part, by weight, of Paris

Green, with 10 or 12 parts of flour, dusted lightly on the vines early in the morning, when the dew is on the foliage.

HOW BEST APPLIED.

Where only a small patch is cultivated, the mixture can be readily applied by means of an ordinary flour-dredger ; but where larger quantities are grown, we would suggest the use of a round tin box, about nine or ten inches in diameter, and four or five inches in depth, with a tightly-fitting lid, and with a bottom either perforated with small holes, or covered with fine wire gauze. This should be attached, by means of a hollow handle, T to a stick of any convenient length. W ith such an instrument, which may be obtained at a very trifling cost, a large piece of ground can be gone over in a short time, and the mixture applied almost as fast as the operator can walk.

QUANTITIES REQUIRED, AND PROBABLE COST PER ACRE.

After a careful estimate, we consider that three pounds of the Paris Green, mixed with its due proportion of flour (30 to 56 pounds), will, if economically used, be found sufficient for one acre of potatoes. Assuming fifty cents to be the ordinary retail price per lb. of Paris Green, every 4(j THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

application of the mixture would cost from two to three dollars per acre, exclusive of the labor. If the insect is very abundant, two or more applications may be required, as exposure to wind and rain will eventually remove the powder entirely from the leaves, rendering them liable to further attacks. Some discretion should be exercised in selecting a suitable time for using the mixture, which should not be applied during high winds, or immediately before a rain storm.

NOT DANGEROUS, IF CAREFULLY USED.

As this mixture is of a poisonous character, ordinary care should be used in handling it. to avoid inhaling much of the dust when applying it, to wash the hands after each application, to keep it- out of the reach of children., and to exclude live stock of all kinds from fields where the poison is used. these need be it does With precautions no danger apprehended ; not injure the leaves to any appreciable extent, unless very heavily applied, and cannot possibly affect the potato itself. We make these remarks because we have met with several individuals who entertain a foolish prejudice against the use of this mixture, for fear that it might injure the potatoes. OTHER REMEDIES TRIED.

We did not content ourselves with the use of Paris Green only, but experimented with as many other substances as the limited time at our disposal would admit of ; and, although we would not have the results here given to be considered as final in reference to the materials used, we trust they will be of value as indicating the most promising remedies for further trial.

Arsenious Acid (Arsenic). —This chemical being much cheaper than

Paris Greeti and more uniform in its we it would i composition, hoped have proved a practical and safe remedy. We tried it in the proportions of one to a of flour while half-ounce, ounce and two ounces pound ; and are we not prepared, from the few trials we have made, to entirely disap- prove of its use, the results we have obtained point to the conclusion that

it has where been used in sufficiently large proportions to destroy the insect, it has caused more or less injury to the leaves. In cases where Paris Green is not obtainable, this might be used as a substitute, in the of proportion one ounce to one pound of flour, which should always be colored with some black powder, such as charcoal or black antimony, so as to lessen the risk of accident from its use. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 47

Another arsenical compound was also tested, known in commerce as Powdered Cobalt, or Fly-Poison. This was used in the same proportions as the last-mentioned, and with similar results, but owing to its higher price we do not recommend it for general use.

Sulphate of Copper (Blue Stone). —A strong solution of this salt was tried in the proportion of two ounces to one gallon of water, and showered on the vines with a watering pot, without damage to either the insect or the plant.

Bichromate of Potash. —This is a poisonous substance, largely used in dyeing, and one which has attracted some attention in France of late, as a remedy for insects. We used it dissolved in water in the proportion of two ounces to three gallons of water. This killed the insects effectually, but, at the same time, destroyed the plants. Whether, in a more diluted form, this remedy could be effectively used without injury to the foliage, we are unable at present to say, but shall experiment further with it.

Powdered Hellffjore.--This powerful irritant, which is so effectual as a remedy for the Currant Worm, we tried without perceptible effect, both in powder and also mixed with water. Several other poisonous substances were also used with like results.

Carbolate of Lime. —There are several preparations sold under this name, which we found to vary much in composition and character, and equally so in effect. We tried an article known as Dougall's, without any good result, but succeeded better with one prepared by Lyman Bros, of Toronto, a black powder manufactured, we understand, from coal tar. — This destroyed a large proportion of the larvae, but we doubt whether it

would kill the insect it used in an perfect ; is, moreover, undiluted form, which would render its cost greater than that of the Paris Green mixture, so see in we no advantage using it, although the fact of its being less poisonous may induce some to try it who are prejudiced against Paris Green.

Ashes and Air-slacked Lime, we found, had been extensively used by many of the formers on the frontier districts, but, as far as we could see or learn, without any perceptible results.

hand-pickino.

This has been, thus far, the chief means employed in lessening the numbers of the beetle, and, where perseveringly followed, has proved 48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

it very successful ; but needs to be almost daily repeated, and is, therefore, exceedingly troublesome, and quite impracticable where a large quantity of potatoes are under cultivation. The usual method is to knock the insects off the plant with a piece of shingle, into a dish or small pail con- a little water as fall when struck, both larva and taining ; they readily beetle may thus be collected in large numbers. ARK ALL POTATOES ALIKE LIABLE TO ATTACK?

During the course of our inspection, we frequently met with gardens and fields containing two or more kinds of potatoes, and observed that in many instances one sort was very much more affected by the insect than the others. The Mesliannock is particularly liable to attack, while the Rose and Peach Blow are less so but where- the latter are the Early ; only varieties planted, the insects do not hesitate to devour them. The only practical suggestion we can make in reference to this point is, that it might be well to plant a few of such sorts as are most liable to be injured, s > as to attract the larger proportion of the insects to one spot, and thus enable the cultivator to destroy them with less labor and expense. NATURAL REMEDIES.

American Entomologists enumerate fourteen insects which prey upon the Colorado Potato Beetle in some one or other of its stages. Eight of these we know to be common in Canada, and probably some of the others will also be found here. Of the insects we are now about to describe, the first four feed on the eggs and larvae, the fifth upon the larvae only, and the last two on both the larvae and perfect beetle.

nQ - Lady-Birds.- -The commonest of these is called the nine-

• Coccinclla notata— See spotted Lady-Bird (

Hippodamia j j punctata (Linn.)—The thirteen-dotted Lady- HG. G. Bird (see fig. 6) is somewhat larger than either of the preceding species, and has thirteen black spots on a brick-red Js ground.

Hippodamia convergens (Guer.)—The convergent Lady-Bird, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 49

whose color is orange red, marked with black and white, is said to have been of immense service in checking the ravages of the Colorado beetle in some ot the Western States. The larvae of all these species are very the fierce, and feed on both the eggs and young larva? of both Colorado and three-lined potato beetle.

'The next insect belongs to the order Hemiptera (half- wings), the true bug family. It is the rapacious Soldier — 21. Its color is' Bug Redm 7 its raptatorius (Say) See fig. light brown, and it attacks the larvae only cf the Colorado beetle. We have detected another insect friend belonging to this family in the act of extracting the juices from the body of a young Colorado larva, into which it had thrust the long rostrum, or beak, with which all the members of the family are furnished. Its name has not vet been determined by us. The next two friendly insects are known as Carabidce, or Carniverous

( Jround Beetles.

FIG. 22. CaJosoma calidum (Fabr. )—The glowing calosoma is the of its (see fig. 22) so called from appearance wing-cases, which are shining black, with six rows of sunken coppery spots. This beetle is easily found under stones or logs, in moist weather, in May and June. It is exceedingly active in its movements, and a valuable friend to the agriculturist.

The murky ground beetle, Harpalus caliginosus — the last one on our list. It is (Say) see fig. 23—is — Colors Black, with cop of a dull black color, and may be readily recognized pery dots. from the drawing. All the insects belonging to this family are carnivorous in their habits, and we shall doubtless find among them some other species attacking the Colorado Potato Beetle.

In some of the figures we have used, the insects have been enlarged, and in such cases the correct -rtf" size is represented by a hair line at the side of the drawing. POULTRY,

There is a great diversity of opinion as to whether or will the larva* the Color— Dull black. poultry will, not, eat of potato 50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

effects will beetle, and if they do eat it, whether any injurious follow. We obtained much contradictory evidence on this point. A few people asserted that some of their poultry had suddenly sickened and died, after eating freely of the insect, while others stated that their turkeys, ducks and fowls had eaten the larvae greedily, and with perfect impunity. The evidence is so evenly balanced, that we are unable to give any decided opinion. We hope some further experiments will shortly be made, and a definite conclusion arrived at.

SUGGESTIONS.

Paris Green, which we regard as the most practical and efficient a remedy for this insect pest, is, unfortunately, as found in commerce, substance most variable in its composition. It is an arsenite of copper, and the best qualities contain about 60 per cent, of arsenic, on which its activity depends ; but the inferior grades contain a much smaller per centage, and are proportionately less effective, and sometimes almost worthless for this purpose. It is highly important that the public be supplied with a good quality of this useful material, and at as low a price as as an to its use and Ave would possible, encouragement ; strongly urge on the Department the expediency of making such arrangements with the wholesale dealers in Toronto as will enable farmers and others to obtain a

reliable preparation at a stated uniform price. We would further suggest, that, for convenience sake, the Paris Green be made up in packages containing one pound each, with printed directions for its use, and cautions

regarding its poisonous qualities.

We would also recommend the department to strongly urge upon farmers to plant in future only such quantities of potatoes as they can well look after. One acre, carefully cultivated and watched over, will five if probably yield more gross results than four or acres, neglected ; indeed, wherever the beetle is numerous, negligence will lie sure to be repaid by the utter destruction of the crop.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

We cannot conclude our report without acknowledging the valuable assistance we received, during our tour of inspection, from many persons to whom we applied for information. Much anxiety appeared to be felt for the safety of the potato crop, and great satisfaction was expressed at the action of the i )epartment in causing an investigation to be made. The officers of the various agricultural societies in the districts we visited THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 51

were most obliging, and did all in their power to aid us. In our annual report, to which we have before alluded, we purpose to acknowledge more in detail the individual services which were rendered. We would, however, here especially express our thanks to W. Wallace, Esq., Assis- tant-Superintendent G.W.R.R., for his kindness in obtaining much useful information for us from the various station masters on the line.

We have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servants, William Saunders,

/ Ice-President Entomological Society of Ontario. Edmund Baynes Reed, Sec.-Treas. Entomological Society, Ontario.

[Note. —Seeing the importance of taking immediate action in carrying out the suggestions made in the above Report, the Department has effected such arrangements with a wholesale drug house in the city of Toronto as will enable farmers and others to obtain a reliable quality of Paris Green there, at 30 cents per pound. It will be put up in one pound packages, as suggested, with full directions for use, and may be purchased in quantities of not loss than ten pounds, by remitting the amount of its cost to Messis. Lyman Bros. & Co., of Toronto.]

DESCRIPTION OF HESPERIA CONS.PICUA (EDW.).

BY PROF. H. AV. PARKER. AMHERST, MASS.

Mr. Edwards describes and figures a female of this large species, from Michigan, in Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 1863. The following is a description of the male, collected by me in Iowa, July 4. The spots are numbered as in Mr. Edwards' account :-

The secondaries, above and beneath, are like those of the female. Above, from the border of the primaries to near the base, the color is an line at end yellow, except the sexual dash and dark veining ; oblique of the from a dark shade extends to the outermost rest- cell, which spot ; ing midway on this, a narrow shade runs from the first three spots along the subcostal vein. The sexual dash, with its spots, is formed of two confluent of black the outer one is and con- patches ; oblong, parallel

tiguous with the cell, its outer end slightly separated from the oblique cross line the other is smaller and more touches the basal ; patch oval, 52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

fourth of the first patch (in one specimen only the corner), and extends to the internal vein outside of this the is obliquely ; eighth yellow spot not obsolete, but large, squarish, and confluent with the seventh. Beneath, the smoky tinge of the inner margin of the primaries is replaced by dark brown between the base and the seventh and eighth yellow the seventh is and the off spots ; sharply defined, eighth shades exteriorly. This dark-brown area (made up in part of a sub-triangular spot, its darker part oval, and representing the outer sexual dash above) cuts snarply

against the cell. The costal border, the cell, and the whole of the secondaries, have a strong tawny tinge in a fresh specimen. The cross line at the end of the cell is visible, and a dark shade reaches outwardlv

to both the fourth and fifth the cell is bisected a dark — spots ; lengthwise by line. Ex. males 1-4 1-5. Females 1-5. In a female specimen, likewise from Iowa, the secondaries beneath are suffused with the same tawny color as in the male. My males unques- tionably belong to my female, and the female agrees well with Edwards' description and figure, whereas Mr. Scudder confesses that his does not in particulars that seem important.

HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LIMENITIS DISIPPUS— Godt, ANT) L. URSULA, Fabr., IN THEIR PREPARATORY STATES. BV C. V. RILKV,

State Entomologist of Missouri, St. Louis.

It is not. I believe, generally known that, closely as these two insects resemble tLtch other in the larval and pupal states, they may, nevertheless, be readily and invariably distinguished by the constant differences in the anterior horns of the former and in the hump of the latter. I was fortunate enough, the present summer, to have several larvoe of each species feeding, as also several pupae of each hanging, at one and the same time and with the of the characters here I ; exception given, do not think there are any other distinguishing features to be relied upon.

On an average, the mature larva of Ursula is larger, the head is some-

what smoother, and the mamma-like warts on joint 5 more prominent, while the size of its is also a sufficient average pupa greater ; but, when THK CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST." .V>

number of individuals are examined, each species is found to vary so much in itself, as to render these unreliable as distinguishing traits.

The accompanying diagrams (Fig. 24), which are sketched from memory, arc. perhaps, a little inaccurate and but will to exaggerated ; serve illustrate the true distinguishing traits at a glance

• > #.' — 2 a' q% ^z a a showing the larval horn and pupal hump of Disippus, and b' fa the same of Ursula. \w the full-grown larva of Disippus, the horns on joint 2 are, on an 0.20 inch while in Ursula or average, but long ; they average 0.40. double the size : in Disippus they are heavy, decidedly club-shaped, and generally covered with granulations or prickles to the base ; while in Ursula they have a more uniform diameter, are more slender, with fewer prickles at the end, and with the basal half generally quite smooth and highly polished. In the pupa of Disippus the hump is less regular, with the upper edge less rounded than the lower, so that an imaginary 1 line run through it as at a leaves the larger portion below. In the pupa of Ursula, on the contrary, the hump is quite regular, the upper edge being, in outline, almost the counterpart of the lower, so that the same imaginary line would leave the larger portion above. I have not my library at hand, and cannot tell whether Boisduval, Smith and Abbott, or any other authors have pointed out these dis- characters but I have an that have not, tinguishing ; impression they and more modern authors certainly have not.

London, Eng., July 13th, 1871.

[Mr. Riley's friends will no doubt be glad to learn, from the date of the foregoing article, that he has safely crossed the Atlantic, and that, though amongst old friends and old haunts, he has not lost his interest in the investigation of the insects of this continent. We wish him much enjoyment in his visit to his—native land, and a safe return to his valued labours in the Western world. Ed. C. E.] 54 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KV.

LITHOCOLLETIS.

(For the generic characters, see Staintons Nat. Jlist. Tiueina, vol. 2, or Dr. Clemens Paper in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Hist., Phila., Nov., 1859.)

This genus comprehends a large part of the genus Argyromiges Stephens, and is one of the largest among the Tineina. The number of described is but in this so far as I am European species very great ; country, advised, but 27 species have heretofore been described. Of these. Dr. Fitch

(Reports, vol. j ) describes 7, one of which. L. (Argyromiges) robiniella, is re-described by Dr. Clemens (loc. cit. supra), it having been originally described by him in an English publication. Dr. Clemens (loc. cit.) describes also 17 new species; and Dr. Packard, in his "Guide," describes 3 additional new species. I propose, in these papers, to catalogue such of the above-described species as I have met with in Kentucky (near to Cincinnati. Ohio), with notes upon their habits, variations, &c, and to describe such new species as I have met with. The genus presents, in the larval state, two distinct forms.

Group 1st. —Larva cylindrical, with distinct thoracic, ventral, and anal feet. It mines the under surfaces of leaves, and the complete mine is tent-like, and the leaf more or less drawn or folded.

— It Group 2nd. Larva flat : apparently, but not really, apodal. mines the upper surfaces of leaves, and the mine is usually flat, or simply a little drawn or puckered along the centre, and a little tent-like. But the rule is not invariable that the mine and miner of the upper surface is flat, and the miner of the lower surface cylindrical, and the mine tent-like. There are exceptions to both sorts of mine and miner. And from not being aware of these exceptions, Dr. Clemens (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., 1863, 7\ 2, p. 8) criticises a species ( Anacampsis robin iella ) which he says does not exist. But I have now before me as I write numerous specimens of the larva as described bv Dr. Fitch. The mine, however, is as vet flat. And I have other instances of the other case, cylindrical larvae in a flat mine on the upper surface. These larvae are usually marked with a translucent spot on top of each side of each of the first three segments following the head, and with a transverse spot on those and the following segments. This macula in a is, form, thin double convex, an ellipsoid, or a parallelogram, and is THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 55

either hollow or not. according to the species. These markings change at

the mountings sometimes, but I have never found any variation in the markings of the full-grown larvae of a species among themselves, though sometimes they differ in larvae from different species of plants which yet produce the identical imago. The mines, likewise, of the same species, do not vary essentially upon the same plant, nor usually upon different sometimes different mines different kinds of leaves plants ; yet upon produce the same imago. Examples of these variations will be given further on. Usually, the larva of a species is confined to a single species of plants, or if it mines the leaves of more than one species they are generally allied ones but sometimes it that the same larva— or closely ; happens one producing the same imago — mines the leaves of widely different plants. It frequently happens that the same plant or even the same leaf is mined by more than one species of larva, and I have seen upon the same ' locust leaf ( Robinia pseudacacia) the mine of Lithocolletis /tobinietla, Clem. .

Pareetopa Robiniella, Clem., and another mine, which is, perhaps, that of I have not bred the and there Anacampsis Robiniella, Fitch, though imago ; is still another miner (of the upper surface) which makes a white, tent-like mine, but with the imago of which I am not acquainted as yet. Usually a mine is tenanted by only a single larva, but as the mines spread they frequently unite. There are, however, among the larvae of the 2nd group, some which occasionally, and others which almost invariably, have several larvae even in the very young mine, and I have seen fifteen larvae in a mine scarcelv a line in diameter.

With very few exceptions, the pupa state is passed in the mine, the exuvia being left partly within and partly without the mine by the emer- gent imago. A few instances only are recorded in which the larva leaves in- the mine to become a pupa : and Dr. Clemens has recorded a single stance, that of L. erataegella, in which the larva sometimes leaves an old mine and forms a new one. SECTION A. SPECIES WITH THE GROUND COLOR WHITE.

Div. ist.-—Some portion of the wings of some shade of yellow.

Sub-div. a. No apical spot—no basal streak. * Wings marked with fasciae.

i.—L. hamadryadella, Clem., Proe. Aead. Nat. 'Set., Phila. 1859.

There is considerable variation in the distinctness and disposition of .V> THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the markings of this species, especially about the basal portion of the wings, where the black markings vary from mere dusting to distinct narrow- lines or fascia?. Perhaps Clemens" variety No. 3 is the most distinctly marked form, but there is no such thing as a distinct and separate variety^ as the variations are of all kinds between the extremes.

The larva is of the second group, and the mine is an irregular whitish blotch on the upper surface of the leaves of different white oaks ( Quevens Alba and obtusiloba). The pupa lies on the upper surface under a thin coverlet of silk. Imago in April, May and July. Alar. ex. nearly y$ inch. ( ommon— Pennsylvania — Kentucky.

There is another mine of a very distinct species.' hereafter to be described, on the upper surface of the leaves of the same plant, and sometimes both occur upon the same leaf. Seldom more than one larva in a mine.

7 2. 'Hi 1. . L. tiliaa A sj>.

white middle of the anterior from Glistening, snowy ; portion wings near their base to the base of the ciliae which is — pale golden, produced along the costa to the base three broad silvery white fasciae dark mai- gined internally: the dark margin of the third fascia widely interrupted in the middle, and the pale golden very indistinct, sometimes not visible.

behind it the second fascia is about the middle of the Al. ex. ; — wing. ^ inch. Kentucky rare. Larva of the first group, white, covered with dispersed longish hairs. Mine on upper surface of Tilia /[merieana (the

Linden). Small, circular or ovate, brownish, mottled with whitish ; not

visible underneath until the lower cuticle dies. This is one of the anoma-

lous mines and lame before referred to.

3. J,, lucetielld) Clem., loc. eit. supra.

besides the markings mentioned by Dr. Clemens, nearly all my specimens have the silvery band dark margined strongly by a dorsal black streak, and have also a distinct black costal spot at the base of the ciliae. Al. ex. \( in. nearly. Pennsylvania and Kentucky Common larva of

tlie 1 st group—pupa in thin whitish silken cocoon.

Mines the under surface of leaves of Tilia Americana. It first sepa- rates the lower cuticle, between two veins, over the whole surface of the mine, and then picks out the parenchyma in specks above, so that the

incomplete mine resembles and may be mistaken for that of L. iiliacella, but the perfect mine is white upon both surfaces. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 57

Sub-div. b. With an apical spot— no basal streak.

; •• Costal and dorsal streaks, but no fasciae.

4. /.. Clemensclla. X. sp.

Silvery or edistenine white. Antennae annulate above with brownish.

Apical half of the anterior wings pale golden, with four silvery white costal and two dorsal streaks all dark-margined internally. 'The dark margin of the first costal streak distinct, oblique, and produced along the costa towards the base. The first dorsal streak opposite to the second costal, oblique, pointing to the third costal. No basal streak. Apical spot black, nearly circular. Hinder marginal line at the base of the dorsal ciliae brownish^ broad, continuous with the hind margin of the second dorsal streak,

and reaching to but not passing around the apical spot : ciliae silvery-tinged with pale golden. At. ex. ^ inch. Kentucky—common. Differs from the next species, L. lucidicostella, in the points indicated by the italics, and is, perhaps, a little smaller. Though the imago is common in April and

Mav, and I have made diligent search for the mine. 1 have never found it.

I have taken the liberty of naming this pretty species in honor of the late Dr. Clemens, who has done so much for this branch of American

I -epidopterology.

Sub.-div. c. Both apical spot and basal streak. * No fascia, but both dorsal and costal streaks.

— L. 5. lucidicostella. Clem., loc. cit. supra.

Larva of first group. Tent mine on the under surface of the leaves of .Sugar tree (Acer Saccharinum) and sycamore? (A pseudo-platanus). — in Imago April, May, July and August. Abundant. At. ex. }{ inch, large. Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Alabama.

Z. Argentifimbriella, Clem., is described loc. cit. supra and Z. querci albella. by Dr. Fitch, in ?'ol. 5 of his Xeu< York Reports; and both are said to mine the leaves of oaks, but I have never found either in Ken- tucky, nor have I ever seen them at all. Are they the same ? From the descriptions I cannot see wherein they differ. L. Ai-entijindoriella and Z. lucidicostella are described by Dr. Clemens in the same paper, and no doubt they are different species. Yet the differences indicated by the descriptions are differences of degree, that is. of intensity and extent of the markings rather than of kind, that is, of location and pattern of coloration : and I have species of Z. lucidicostella, which seem to meet die of me to requirements either description. 58 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

6. —L. Caryae-aJbella. N. sp.

Head palpi, tuft, antennae and thorax silvery white : basal portion of the wing (within the costal and dorsal streaks) silvery white, with a wide pale golden basal streak along the eostal margin from the base to the first costal streak. The basal white portion in some lights suffused with pale golden. Apical two-thirds or more of the wings pale golden, with four costal and two dorsal all dark silvery silvery streaks, ; margined internally. The first dorsal the first costal, which is smaller large oblique, opposite ; their dark margins uniting at an acute angle on the fold, the streaks themselves being scarcely confluent. Second dorsal opposite to and larger than the second costal its dark wide. Third and fourth costal ; margin streaks small. Apical spot small, black : hinder marginal line at the base

' ] of the cilice, brown. Cilise pale, fulvous. Al. ex. 4 inch. Larva unknown. Mines the under surface of the leaves of hickory trees ( Carva- alba). Mine ovoid, tent-like. The parenchyma is eaten off of the upper cuticle in a ring, leaving a green spot in the centre, which is then eaten off. The pupa is contained in an oval cocoon made of frass. Imago in July—rare.

Very distinct from L. lucid/costelta, the main differences being indicated by the italics above.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

It is now several months since we have had space to acknowledge the various publications that have been kindly sent us by authors and pub- lishers this omission has ; arisen, not from any want of appreciation of the kindness of the donors, or the slightest intention ot being discourteous. from but the fact that our journal has been published at longer intervals than previously, and consequently the pressure upon its limited pages has been greater than ordinary. Our observations now must necessarily be as brief, we have fallen so deeply into arrears.

Characters of i'ndescribed Lepidoptera Heterocera, and A List of Hymen- collected optera, by j. K. Lord, Esq., in Egypt, in the neighbourhood of the Red Sea, and in Arabia. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. London : Janson. 1869-71.

The former of these works, by our diligent friend, Mr. Walker, contains of descriptions 196 new species from various parts of the world, including THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 59

several from North America ; the latter gives descriptions of new species and references to nearly 300 species, chiefly of Aculeate Hymenoptera.

Record of American Entomology far tlic Year 1S60. Edited by A. S.

Packard, jun., M.D. Salem: Naturalists" Book Agency. (8vo. pp. 62. $1.)

We were very glad, indeed, to receive this second issue of a most useful work, and trust that we shall soon have the pleasure of announcing the " publication of the third volume containing the Record" for 1870. The part before us contains references to the articles or notes of fifty-two American Entomologists, and to the descriptions of no less than three hundred and thirty-five new species of North (and Central) American insects. Among the Entomologists we notice the names of ten Cana- dians, whose articles, together with those of several of our friends in the United States, have for the most part appeared in the pages of the Canadian Entomologist. We cannot but feel highly gratified at' the success which our little publication has achieved as shown in the " pages of the Record ;" and we trust that future issues will manifest no falling off in the numbers and zealous work of 0115 friends and corres- " pondents. The Record for 1869"' contains notices of the Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera (Heterocera), Arachnida and Myriapoda, by the Editor, Dr. Packard and Mr. ; Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera) Orthoptera, by Scudder.;

Baron Osten Sacken ; Dr. Horn and Diptera, by Coleoptera, by j Hemip- tera and Neuroptera. by Mr. Uhler,—all well-known and eminent Ento- mologists. MISCELLAN EOUS WORKS. " Le Naturaliste vol. No. Canadien," iii., 6, May, 1871 ; "The Cana- " dian 1 The Canadian Mon- Journal,*' Toronto, May, 187 ; Naturalist," " treal, Sept., 1870 ; Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History," " vol. ; Newman's No. Mr. xiii., 1869-71 Entomologist,'* 90 (from Reeks) ; Hardwicke's "Science No. vol. Gossip/' May, 1871 ; "Nature," 80, iv., " 1 May 11, 187 ; "The American Agriculturist ;" The Rural New Yorker ;" " " "The Prairie Farmer;" The Maine Farmer;" The New York Sun ;" " " " Arthur's Home Magazine" and The Children's Hour ;" The Horti- " " culturist " ;" The Canada Fanner ;" The Churchman's Magazine ;" The Canada Bookseller;" "The Journal of Education;" "The Canadian Poultry Chronicle."

Erratum.— In the last number of the Can. Ent., vol. iii., p. 23, 7th line from the bottom, for C. Susinc/Ai, Higa, read C. Susinel/a, Heyden. 60 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c.

Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, &e. — Expecting soon to return to Europe,

I should like to receive in exchange Lepidoptera or Coleoptera of Canada and the L-nited States for European. As a corresponding member of the Royal Entomological, Malacological and Linruean Societies of Belgium, and an honorary member of the Silk Supply Association of London, 1 am desired to procure such species as can be obtained from the United States and Canada. I should especially like to obtain specimens of Silkworm nests Moths ; and should also be thankful to receive birds' skins, eggs and for Europe. Early correspondence is solicited, in order to effect agreeable exchanges. Specimens may be sent packed or pinned in cigar-bcxes. —

J. Q. A. Warren, Chicago, 111. Lepidoptera,

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork, and Pins. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of

Klaeger's pins, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each. List of Canadian Coleoptera. — Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets.) Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000, for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set. Orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont: W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal,

; G. P. ; P.Q. J. Bowles, Quebec, Q. J. Johnston, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States. —The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; V. Yt. 1. Green, Newport, ; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadway', New York. Cljc dCanabian (intomolopt

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., AUGUST, 1871. NO. 4.

ENTOMOLOGY. No. n.

BY WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL.

In a former paper, I have briefly referred to the peculiarity of nest structure made by the larva? of our large Lepidopterous Nocturnal insects,* in order to show that an attempt should be made to separate species on the similarity of form and texture of these structures. No doubt, when Kntomology becomes thoroughly studied throughout the Dominion, much of the confusion in our present generic classification will be removed by means of investigations into the early history of larvae and imagines of the

True, this be a but when I find many genera. may pronounced theory ;

* Fitch, in his Report for 1859, gives seme pertinent remarks regarding- the nomenclature of Attacus cecropia. When Linnaeus first noticed this moth in the cabinet of Queen Ulrica, it was at that time the largest and most sumptuous of the kind known to him, and he named it as above, but Sir -James E. Smith and latterly Dr. Harris have stated that the Linnaean generic and specific nomenclature are inexplicable. Fitch adds '" that the name Attacus, meaning elegant, or connected to the Athenians, was originally given by Linnaeus to a section or sub-genus of his group Bombycidje, having the wings expanded when at rest. Schrank afterwards gave the name Satilrnia to the same insects. G-ermar subsequently revived the original Linnaean name, but most authors still continue the name Naturalist's vol. vii. has proposed by Schrank. Duncan (Jardine's Library, ) recently proposed dividing these insects into quite a number of genera. Plain, and in the main judicious as his arrangement of them is, he, in our view, improperly ignores the name Attar its-, and unfortunately gives an erroneous location to some of the species.- Tims our American Cecropia and Prometheq are the two species which he figures and fully describes as illustrating his genus Hydlophoia, yet, as its name implies, this genus is characterised as having large hyaline glass-like spots on the middle of the wings. But no vestige of such spots exists in either of these species. The author has evidently been misled by figures, presuming the white spots represented in the centre of the wings to be hyaline, whereas they are opaque. A new situation must therefore be assigned to these '* two insects." Fitch further states that Cecropia, PromeUica, and the East Indian species named Cynthia of Drury, present a striking likeness to each other both in their preparatory and perfect states;" and he adds that "it is a remarkable feature in the Insect Fauna of this country that we possess such a number of large showy moths of the group * * * * * Attacus of Linnaeus. we have in the State of New York alone eight of these elegant moth?." At page VM\ he remarks that our Lima "is almost identical with the f)2 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

facts pointing toward these objects, I only ask the intelligent student to select a group for study, and when he concludes his investigations, let us have the matter fully explained. But before he can investigate cocoons or other nest forms of any particular genus, it is necessary that a collection be made of the various structures that contain either the living pupa or nymph. These should be preserved in separate boxes, and those specimens which his knowledge leads him to suppose belong to identified genera should be kept in such condition as to accord with the position in which he originally found them. This is the proper course to follow in inves- tigating nest-structures of insects, which I claim will lead to the correction of many errors in our present classification, and place in their proper position many species that are now arranged under wrong genera. If this plan is carried cut, the student will be rewarded with instructive lessons and discoveries of the greatest interest to science. This was the system commenced and partly worked out by the late lamented Uenjamin 1). Walsh, of Illinois, whose investigations of insect life were of the highest order; indeed, much of the present advanced state of the science in America is due to him. When my few illustrations and descriptions of insect architecture appeared in the Canadian Naturalist^ he was the first to notice the matter and send me additional information regarding the

and as I consider his remarks of value. I them here as an species ; give addenda to said descriptions.

"No. i (see "Canadian Naturalist and Geologist," Dec. 1865, p. 461), except in being slightly smaller, strongly resembles the nest of Eumenes fratemus Say — a very common insect here. I have bred the female imago from the nest, and some that I broke open in the summer contained numerous green caterpillars, enough, I should judge, to feed the larvae to maturity. L do not believe any wasps that are not social feed their larvae after they are hatched out. The use of the short tube, which,

Chinese species named Selene by Dr. Leach ;" and regarding the Po'yphemus, which is our " most common species, he says that it is remarkable that two insects which are so similar in their preparatory states that their larva? differ only by slight and unimportant marks, and their cocoons cannot be distinguished from each other, still come to be so unlike each other in their perfect state as is Polyphemus and Luna. These facts show that the metamorphoses of the insects of this order are not so accurate a guide to their systematic arrangement as many have assumed them to be." I have some reason, on another ground, to divide Promethea from Cecropia on cocoon alone form ; and no doubt when the American species constituting the Linnsean genus Attacus are properly studied, great differences will be discovered, not only phytophagi- callv but also in the internal structure of their larva'. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 63

when plugged up with clay, assumes the appearance of a button, is probably to prevent the caterpillars first enclosed in the nest from escaping before the full complement of food is made up."

"No. 2 (Can. Nat, Dec 1865, p. 461) is the nest of a wasp belonging to Pompilida\ and differing from true Pompilus in having the front legs of the female nearly smooth. I have bred four or five different species from nests of similar structure, most of them found under dry bark, but one species occurring always under logs where the ground is moist. One

of the former species is largely infested by an undescribed ichneumon fly belonging to the genus Mesosienus. The kind you figure is the smallest kind that I have bred from, some kinds being twice as long." In a sub- " sequent communication, Mr. Walsh states that the insect that forms the

cell No. 2 belongs, I believe, to St. Fargeau's genus Anoplius : and on account of the legs being unarmed in the female he concludes it to be

' 'parasitic' in his sense of the term, or what Hartig calls an Inquiline,"

' and I have called in English a Guest-fly.' It is plain, however, that the reason whv the legs of the female are unarmed is because it builds a clay nest and does not dig one out either in wood or in the ground. For the the same reason, our common mud-wasp (Pelopceus lunatus Fabr.) has legs of the female but very slightly armed with spines." It will be seen from the above, that Mr. Walsh has bred four or five species belonging to the genus that produced my nest No. 2, and that the nests were all of similar structure. —but these species, he adds, differ from the true Pompilus, by having the front legs of the females devoid of spines. I am sorry that it is not in my power at present to obtain additional information the in Canada but it be regarding species occurring ; may safely inferred that they do not belong to Pompilus proper. The habits of these insects differ, as he states, in that the majority of the species build under dry bark of trees, while one species constructs cells under logs, &c, in damp places. It may be found that this difference is a selection to suit the larva-food which may be of another kind from that found in the cells made under bark. Many of the mud-building wasps that construct dry cells provide their larvae with caterpillars and spiders, which the parent insect stupefies with a kind of aculeate poison that keeps them fresh for cells many days. It is, therefore, probable that the similarly-formed found under logs in damp, muddy places, may be supplied with a larva-food requiring moisture to keep it fresh while the larvae are feeding.* It would please me greatly, if some young Entomological student of Ontario * ] hiring the progress of these articles, it is my intention to make occasional remarks on the similarity of nests f

attended to this enquiry. The insect builds commonly in muddy places on river banks, such as the Don. near Toronto, and Rideau, near Ottawa,

I in doubt where found the cells quite common the autumn ; but no they can be found under logs near any of the smaller rivers in Ontario.

I pass now to another subject—The Report of the Fruit Growers Association of Ontario, to which is appended a Report of some of the Noxious Insects of Canada. I am glad to notice that Ontario takes the lead in these useful and instructive matters but what in the world are ; the Fruit Growers about in offering such large prizes for the dead bodies of so many specimens of Conotrachelus nenuphar ? The Report states that thirteen persons collected last year 13,653 bodies of this weevil, for which the Association may have paid upwards of sixty dollars. Now, I ask any person who has studied this insect, or the habits of the family to which it belongs, if he discovered any natural check on its increase more than any other species of Coleoptera ? During my residence in Ontario. I have not, but, on the contrary, know that they have a prolific year like every other creature on this earth. Well, say that next year will be its prolific year, what a drain would be made on the funds of the Association, provided a person was lucky enough to discover a metropolis of the

I insect, as did several years ago at Toronto ! They occupied a number of choke-cherry trees which grew on each side of the road that divided the Allan from the Ridout property, north of Queen-street. At the rate offered to-day by the Association for so many of their bodies, I could, at that time, have easily made twenty dollars per daw This weevil occurs on all and trees in and cherry plum-bearing growing the wilds of the west ; I also found it destructive en the butternut growing in the Don valley, where it attacks the fallen fruit, in which it undergoes its changes within tiie decayed nut on the surface of the ground. 1 am afraid that this pest has too great a latitude in the west, and it will be difficult to lessen them until we are thoroughly acquainted with the various fruits and nuts which serve to them indeed, not even then can we be rid of propagate ; them, unless attention is paid to the destruction of all tiie fallen fruits which are found under the trees on which they occur. Conotrachelus iwiuphdr does not appear to be very destructive to plum trees in the districts of Quebec. or St. Montreal, Johns, about twenty-seven miles south of this city, where plums are largely cultivated. present classification. Many of these species arc considerably misplaced -according to hut I my theory am determined to make no statement that cannot he upheld by archi- tectural form and structure. THE CAXADIAX ENTOMOLOGIST. 65

The Curcuiionidct are generally hardy inserts, and widely distributed. Cold does not affect them much, as we find species recorded as inhabiting temperate /ones, ranging and occurring abundantly in northern latitudes.

I make a suggestion, which, if carried out, Mould greatly advance our knowledge of this extensive family, of which, I am sorry to say, we know little or nothing:- -That each of the Coleopterists of Ontario devote a season to the stud}- of at least one species of Curculio—first arranging, at a meeting of the Society or agreeing by correspondence, on the names of the for — species selected study that is, that an understanding may be had in order that everyone is to take up a separate species— each student to make a report to the Entomological Society of Ontario sometime in the autumn.

; * Fitch, in his Report for 1859, p. 158, says that we are not certain as to the species of weevil which produce the grubs in our American hazelnuts, walnuts and acorns." On the 31st March, I discovered the acorns of the white oak, growing on the Mountain near this city, to be infested with a Coleopterous larva. These acorns remained under the snow during winter, and I have no doubt that they will produce weevils. The larv?e, at the above date, were of three sizes, and quite vigorous. Color glossy white, the young purely so, but the larger specimens are dotted with numerous black dots arranged transversely on the segments. Head and thorax chestnut color, but in some specimens a black square internal spot occurs on the centre of the dorsal this has an inter-cutaneous move- region ; spot ment when the animal creeps. When these acorns are examined, a small circular hole may be noticed on the side of the nut, made by the parent

- for the deposition of its eggs : but in man} specimens the hole is so nicely closed by the larva from within, that it requires a very expert eye to detect the orifice. This is but one of the many curious stratagems described by Kirby and others. Some of the larvae which I brought home have begun to silken cocoons within the acorns and if I succeed in spin ; breeding this insect, the readers of the ENTOMOLOGIST will learn it in a future paper.

The good effects of Entomology are numerous : patience, persever- ance, and punctuality are essential for successful collecting ; memory, are cultivated discrimination, and logical reasoning necessarily ; early

is ; the mind of find rising encouraged and body youth occupation ; temp- desire to tation to immoral pursuits loses its effect : and liberality with a assist brother collectors is generally engendered, sometimes because it is pleasant, at others because it pays better than greediness. —Knagz. 66 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

HINTS TO FRUIT GROWERS.

Papa- No. j. By Wm. Saunders, London. Ont.

Figures Nos. 25, 26 and 27 represent the caterpillar, chrysalis, and perfect insect of the grape-vine sphinx, Chozrocampa pampinatrix. The voting larvae, varying in color from green to pale lilac or red, are now to (August 1st) very common, and may be easily recognised by reference the figure : for although the ground-tint of the body may vary, the dots and lines remain about the same. It habit, too, of drawing its head with the second arid third segments into the fourth, gives it a distended appearance anteriorly which is very characteristic. When full-grown, the caterpillar is some two inches in length, green, and covered with many small yellow granulations. On the back is a row of seven dots. varying in tint from very pale lilac to red. and on each side of these there is a yellow line or stripe extending from near the head to the base

of the caudal horn : while the sides of the body are striped obliquely with in pale yellow. These caterpillars are great eaters : and did they appear swarms, as is the case with many others, they Mould cause immense

damage ; but as the eggs are laid by the parent moth singly, and not often many on the same vine, the rapid growth of the foliage during the warmer months will, on a large vine, almost make up for any defoliation caused by this larva. In young vineyards or gardens where the vines are small serious injury is sometimes done by these voracious creatures, of all one of which, when nearly full-grown, will strip a young vine clean its foliage in two or three nights. We know of no readier way of fighting this foe than by hand-picking.

When the foliage is sparse, the destruction the}- cause will lead to their ready detection, and where it is dense, they may be discovered by their large dark brown castings en the ground under the vines on which they are feeding.

Nature, which is seldom at fault, has provided a remedy to supplement man's in the a small which is agency shape of a friend!}- parasite, fly, shown here both and of its natural size (see V.:>. 23. magnified the bodies ot fig. 28), and whose progeny feed within their victims, and finally destroy them. Before attaining full growth in these instances, the larvse usually begin to look sick, and there is a sluggishness apparent in .their movements, when soon the body becomes covered with Color bli little oval white cocoons, formed by the young grubs THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. i)/

I'm. 25.

Colors [rrcen, vellow ami lilai

no. 20.

Colors velhnvish and brown.

i-'i.

Colors olive green and urev.

The Canadian &nTomoLo&is1\ G (J

which have eaten their way out through the skin of their victim (as

Fm - '-"' shown in tig 29), from which, in about a week, the little flies escape, bent on their errand of mercy to the vine-grower. Discriminate here between friends and foes, and never destroy an infested larva.

Should all tilings work smoothly with the caterpillar, its life-history not being interfered with by either parasites or vine-growers, then, when full-grown, it descends to the earth and constructs a slight cocoon, by drawing loosely together a few leaves or other material and binding them with silken threads, in which in three or four days the change to chrysalis

(see fig. 26) takes place, and which finally gives birth to the beautiful in in green moth shown fig. 27. For further details regarding this insect " all its stages, the reader is referred to The First Annual Report on the Noxious Insects of the Province of Ontario,"' which appeared iii the Re- port of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1870. THE FALL WEB WORM.

A serious pest just now affects the apple tree—] refer to the "fall web worm," Hyphatitria textor, an insect which has found its way into this Province from the Eastern States within a few years past, and is rapidly spreading. It is by no means confined to the apple, but is equally destructive to the cherry—we have also occasionally found it on the blackberry as well as on several different kinds of forest trees. At a distance, it appears as if the tree or branch infested had been suddenly blighted, the leaves have such a scorched and withered look : but on closer inspection you find the branches enclosed in a slight silken web. by means of which many of the leaves are drawn towards the stem. The upper surface and pulpy portion of the withered leaves have already where some been consumed by this spoiler ; and here and there, green portions still remain, groups of ever-hungry, hairy caterpillars are busy at work. In June or July, a small, pure white moth, or miller, has laid a cluster of eggs on 'a leaf near the extremity of one of the branches, and from this has originated the host of mischief-makers. Before attaining full growth they give up their social characteristics, and scatter far and wade, feeding singly on almost anything they meet with. When mature, they are a little more than an inch long, of a bluish black color, with a wide band of a paler hue along each side, and a few clusters of whitish or reddish hairs arising from little knobs or tubercles, which are arranged 70 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

in a transverse row on each segment or ring of the body. They are of very active habits, running briskly when disturbed.

Hand-picking is the best remedy for these also : go carefully over the infested branches and give no quarter.

REARING BUTTERFLIES FROM THE EGG. By W. H. Edwards, Ccalburuh, West Va.

I give herewith the conclusion to my experiments with Ajax and its varieties. The Telamonidcs larva spoken of in my communication of the 1st of 27th Feb. (vol. ii., p. 163) as having lived over the winter, on

April, 187 1, produced male Telamonidcs (all the rest had yielded Marcellus in 1870). The Marcellus larva: were mostly lost at the burning of my house in February, but one was saved and yielded Telamonides female on the 10th of April, 1871. We have a third well-marked variety very nearly the same as that " figured by Abbot, and for convenience 1 designate this as Ajax var. W'alshii." It is the earliest of the species in the spring. On the 10th of

April last 1 confined three females of this variety, and from them obtained 125 eggs, which in due time gave mc 70 chrysalids. From these emerged, between the 1st and 6th of June, 22 male and 34 female Marcellus, 1 male W'alshii and 1 male Telamonides. On the 23rd of June, another female Marcellus emerged, and still another on the T2th of July. The rest of the chrysalids are alive at this date. On the 4th day of June last, I took two female Interrogationis fluttering about my hop vine, and enclosed them in a keg which was covered with a cloth and placed over a portion of the vine. They immediately began to lay eggs, and from them I obtained 38 larvae, which, as they hatched,

I transferred to a breeding case in the house. From these larvae I had

18 chrysalids. between the 3rd and 9th of July emerged therefrom 5 males and 6 females of Interrogationis (black-winged), 1 male and 5 females Fabricii (red-winged), and one died. The larvae exhibited every distinct type of coloration that I have hitherto noticed in these forms, and either type of larvae produced either sex or form of butterfly indifferently.

' ; In part ix. of the Butterflies of N. A." (to appear in October), 3 plates will be appropriated to the three varieties of Ajax, and 2 to Interrogationis and its variety Fabricii, with detailed statements of my experiments and observations. —July 13, 187 1. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

ENTOMOLOGICAL PICNIC

The members of the London Branch of the Entomological Society oi Ontario held their annual picnic at Maple drove Fruit Farm, the property of Mr. W. Saunders, on Wednesday, July 26th. They assembled at 1 p.m., and were conveyed in vehicles to the place of rendezvous. The day was fine, and although the bright sunlight brought heat in its train, it was so tempered by a refreshing breeze as to make the ride quite enjoyable. soon On arrival at the grounds the party, which numbered about 40, distributed themselves among the small fruits. The raspberries being in season attracted the most attention. The Philadelphias were still heavily laden with well-ripened berries, and the Doolittle and Mammoth Cluster the black caps, although past their prime, added to the enjoyments of occasion. The assembled representatives of Entomological science were Nature's expected to do double duty, and while freely partaking of bountiful and refreshing gifts to take note of such insect enemies as in affected the raspberry both in fruit and foliage. The programme this respect was found impracticable, and it was unanimously decided it well by the parties concerned that to do one thing at a time and do insects abroad was the most sensible way of proceeding ; so the few were allowed to retain peaceable possession until the gastronomic requirements of the company were met. Among the red raspberries. was the black caps and the well-ripened gooseberries of which there an abundance- the various groups into which the party was divided feasted until small fruits ceased to be attractive, when a line of march was formed to the picnic ground, at the back of the farm, where numerous baskets containing hidden treasures had already been conveyed. con- The route lay through the plum and pear orchards- the former three taining 500. the latter over 1700 trees, most of which are now were years planted. We observed that some of the dwarf pear trees already fruiting The vinery, containing over 1000 vines, two or three

: Con- hundred of which were in bearing, next claimed attention the cords were especially admired for their vigorous appearance and large, well-filled clusters of grapes. The trees in the cherry orchard, num- over were now in order and bering 300, ; these, although young, ap-

peared remarkably thrifty and healthy, and promise well for fruit another season. Behind and at one side of the last mentioned is an / _2 THE CAXADTAX ENTOMOLOGIST.

extensive apple plantation of nearly 2000 trees, a large proportion of which are now two years planted and growing well. A few of the

more zealous members had their nets, pill boxes, &c, with them, but there were not many inserts astir, and the trees and vines were remarkably free from caterpillars, so that but few captures were made in the orchards.

On the grassy sward, under the shade of a handsome group ot

maples, the company finally rested : and here, on the extended table- cloths was soon spread a tempting display of the choicest viands. famished by the various members of the party, and supplemented by a profusion of raspberries and cream, the product of the farm, all " " tastefully arranged. After feasting well on these good things the members set off in skirmishing order and scoured the adjoining woods and fields in search of insect game, and some good captures were made. There were a few dragonflies and butterflies on the wing, which were energetically chased with but limited success ; but small moths were more common and easily caught. 'Hie Coleopterists did better, and numberless logs were turned over and many a decaying stum]) barked to disclose the hiding places of the interesting objects of their search. A list of the captures will be found appended. After a hunt of an hour or two, the company re-assembled and enjoyed the cool shade and the cooler ice-cream, and spent awhile in comparing captures and in social converse. On motion, all the collectors willingly handed over the results of the afternoon's hunt to the Secretary to be deposited in the Society's cabinet. By and by the setting sun gave warning of the approaching shades of night, and after votes of thanks to their courteous host, who had so kindly placed his grounds at the disposal of the Society, and to the ladies and others who had so materially aided in making the gathering such a pleasant one. the members left for their homes, all agreeing that the occasion had been one of the most agreeable reunions ever held under the auspices of the Society.

Among the captures of Lepidoptera, we observed the following

: — species Polyommatus Americana ; Drasteria erechthea ; Heterophleps

Ebulea tertialis : Lithocolletis : and a triguttata ; multipunetella number " of other Micros" unknown to us, that would, no doubt, have charmed our friend, Mr. Chambers, Of the Coleoptera, the following may be mentioned :—Chlajnius and lithophilus pensylvanicua ; Platynus longicor- Q THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. , 6

nis and Pterostichus ; Sta- cupripennis ; stygicus ; Hydrophilus glaber

violaceus ; Brontes dubius Osmoderma scabra Lachnosterna phylinus ; ;

fusca ; Penthe ; Dendroides obliquata Nyctobates pensylvanica ; Cana-

densis ; striata ; calcaratiis ; Dacne heros besides Melandrya Centronopus ; a number of minute species that we have not yet had time to determine.

EXTRACT FROM MR. BEXTHAMS ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS TO THE LIXXEAX SOCIETY.

We have ventured to reprint the following extract from Mr. Bentham's address, feeling sure that it will be read with great interest by all students of Entomology in this country. — Ei>. C. E.

There is no country, however, in which the native Flora and Fauna lias been so long and so steadily the subject of close investigation as our own, nor where it continues to be worked out in detail by so numerous a staff of observers . . . but the Fauna of our ; Entomological country, especially in relation to the insects of the adjoining Continent, notwith- standing the numerous able naturalists who devote themselves to its study, appears to be somewhat in arrear. In answer to my query as to works where our insects are compared with those of other countries, I have received from our Secretary, Mr. " Stainton, the following reply : — The questions you have put to me with reference to our literature are how- Entomological very important ; they, ever, painfully call my attention to the necessarily unsatisfactory nature

' 5 of my replies. Wollaston's Coleoptera Hesperidum is the only separate work to which I can direct your attention as giving the fauna of a particular district, with the geographical range of such of the species as are likewise found elsewhere. R. M'Eaehlan, who in 1865 had published

(Trans. Ent. Soc, ser. 3, v.) a Monograph of the British Caddis-flies, gave, in 1868 (Trans. Ent. Soc. for 1868), a Monograph of the British Xeuroptera Planipenna, but little is there said of the European range of In our species. 1867 (Entom. Monthly Mag., iii.) Mr. M'Eaehlan, who is one of our most philosophical writers, gave a Monograph of the British Psocidse, and he there says, with reference even to their distri-

' bution in our own country, As a rule, I have not mentioned special

localities ; these insects have been so little collected that an enumeration here of known or recorded localities would probably appear ridiculous 74 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

in a few years." The Rev. T. A. Marshall has given (Entom. Monthly

i. to Mag., iii.) an essay towards a knowledge of the British Homoptera. in which occasionally allusion is made to the European distribution of our British species. " The position of the Insect-fauna of Britain may be thus stated : the late J. F. Stephens commenced in 1827 a systematic descriptive work

' of all the orders of British Insects as Illustrations of British Entomology : it ceased to appear after 1835, until a supplementary volume came out in 1846. The Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera were wholly, the Hymenoptera partly, done, the Hemiptera and Diptera altogether left out. In 1839, Mr. Stephens published, in a more compendious form, a

4 Manual of British Beetles." In 1849, an attempt was made to supply the gaps in the British Entomology left by Stephens, and a scheme of a series of volumes called ' Insecta Britannica" was elaborated, in which

Mr. F. Walker was to undertake the Diptera, Mr. W. S. Dallas the Hemiptera, and great progress having been made in our knowledge cf the smaller moths since 1835, I undertook to write a volume on the Tineina. This scheme was so far carried out, that three volumes on the British Diptera by Mr. F. Walker (assisted by the late A. H. Halidav) appeared in 1851, 1852 and 1856, and my volume on the British Tineina in 1854. In 1859, another great group of the smaller moths was described

' by S. J. Wilkinson in a volume entitled The British Tortrices." The British Hemiptera, not having been done by Mr. Dallas, were undertaken Messrs. and Scott for the and in a by Douglas Ray Society ; 1865 4to volume was issued, containing the Hemiptera, Heteroptera, leaving the Homoptera for a second volume, still in progress. Even in this elaborate work little or nothing is said of the geographical distribution out of Britain of our British species. The same will apply to the late J. F.

' Dawson's Geodephaga Britannica," published in 1854; to Westwood's ' Butterflies of in and to E. Newman's Great Britain,' published 1855 ; 'Illustrated Natural History of British Moths," published in 1869. " I believe I do not at all exaggerate if I say that for many years Entomology was pursued in this country with an insularity and a narrow- mindedness of which a botanist can scarcely form a conception. The such an system of only collecting British Insects was pursued to extent, that it was almost a crime to have a non-British insect in one's posses- value ; the sion if accidentally placed in one's cabinet it might depreciate of the entire collection, for Mr. Samuel Stevens can assure you that the value of the specimens depends very much upon their being indubitably THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 75

and urimistakeably British. A specimen caught in Kent which would fetch 2/. would not be worth 2s. if caught in Normandy. I satirised this

' 1 practice several years since in the Entomologist's Weekly Intelligence'

' ' (vol. v. and 1858, articles Jeddo' and Insularity'), but it is yet far from extinct."

Perfectly concurring in Mr. Stainton's observations in the last para- graph, 1 would, however, add, that there are purposes for which a local or geological collection distinct from the general one may be of great use, and such a collection would be much impaired by the introduction of stray foreign specimens. In a local museum, a separate room devoted exclusively to the productions of the locality is very instructive with reference to the history of that locality, and 1 have seen several such spoiled by the admission of exotic specimens, giving the visitor false impressions, which it takes time to remove. But it is never from such an exclusive collection that the fauna or flora of the district can be satisfactorily worked out, or that any branch of Zoology or Botany can be successfully taught. " Mr. Stainton adds : It has been suggested to me that those who have critically studied the distinctions between closely allied species have rarely the time to work out in addition their geographical range, and that those who might work up the latter subject might fail in their good inten- tions for want of a proper knowledge of species." Upon this I would observe that, in the due appreciation of a species of its limits and con- nections, its geographical range and the various forms it assumes in different of its area are it to parts an essential element ; and appears me that the neglect of this and other general characters is one reason why many able naturalists, who have devoted their lives to the critical distinction of races of the lowest grades unduly raised to the rank of species, have really contributed so little to any science but that of sorting and naming collections. On the other hand, the study of geographical range without a proper knowledge of species is little more than pure speculation. Division of labour carried too far tends to narrow the mind, and rather to delay than advance the healthy progress of science. " Mr. Stainton informs me that there has just appeared a monograph of the Ephemeridas, by the Rev. A. E. Eaton (Trans. Entom. Soc, 187 1), of those insects the and when are treating throughout globe ; any species noticed which occur in this country, their entire geographical range is noticed. It is altogether a valuable paper, on account of the thorough- ness with which it seems to be done."—Nature, July 6, 187 1. 76 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

NOTES ON THE EGG AND YOUNG LARVA OF ALARIA FLORIDA.

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, QNT.

On the 4th of July I found a number of eggs of this beautiful moth on the evening primrose, Oenothera Lamarckiana. They were found attached to the stalks of the flower buds to the sides of the young ; calyx of the flower, and also to the young leaves at their base. The eggs were quite firmly fastened among the long stout hairs with which the cuticle of the calyx and flower stalk is covered.

Description of egg examined under a magnifying power of 45 diameters : — of an inch Form Length, i-40th ; width, i-45th. nearly round, flattened a little at the base, where it is also somewhat contracted in size, and slightly conical above, with numerous raised striae, about 36 in all, which run into each other before they reach the tip, where they are reduced to less than half the number, and terminate at the base of a small ring which crowns the tip : this ring has a depression in the centre, and the space around the cavity is finely punctured. 'The striae are irregularly crossed by numerous fine, raised lines, and thus the whole surface is minutely reticulated, but the meshes are irregular in form, with a slight depression in the centre of each. The color of the egg is dull yellowish pink.

Some of the eggs hatched on the 7th of Jul}', when the following description of the young larva was taken : —

Length, about i-i5th of an inch, cylindrical. Head large, and black, with a few black and brown hairs. Body above of a dull shining yellow, with a wide dorsal band of dull white. On each segment there are from 8 to 12 shining black dots, from each of which arises a single black or brown hair. The upper portions of second and terminal segments have each a large patch of black.

Under surface similar to the but with fewer dots feet black upper, ; ; prolegs pale greenish, faintly tipped with brown.

The changes in appearance of the larva at its subsequent moultings were not noted. A description of the full-grown caterpillar has already in b^en given the Entomologist (see p. 6, vol. 2). THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. / /

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Record of American Entomology for the Year i8jo. Edited by A. S. Packard, Jr., M.D. Naturalists' Book Agency: Salem, 187 1. (8vo. pp. 27. 50 cents.) " We have recently received a copy of the Record" for 1870. It is, we to less than half the size of the issue regret observe, preceding ; but, " as the Editor observes, we are not to infer that Entomology is on the decline in America for there are indications beneath the surface ; many that promise much for the future of this study." There are references in this part to the notes or articles of thirty-five Entomologists, including six Canadians and five others who have contributed to the pages of the Canadian Entomologist, and to the descriptions of three hundred and one nt\v species of North (and Central) American Insects that have been published during the past year. We regret exceedingly to learn from Dr. Packard that this useful publication is not being supported by American Entomologists in any degree as it ought to be, and that, unless an improvement takes place, it must be discontinued. Up to July 22 only kt three subscriptions had been received for the Record" of 1870! This surely is a sad disgrace to the students of this branch of Natural His-

but we trust that the it tory ; mere mention of will be sufficient to cause them to send in their subscriptions at once to the Naturalists' Book Agency at Salem, and relieve the hard-working Editor of further pecuniary responsibility. The price of the present issue is only fifty cents, while a complete set of the issues for 1868, 1869 and 1870 will he furnished for the small sum of a dollar and a half.

lli'ud Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and other Inserts of the State of Missouri. By Charles V. Riley, State Entomologist. Jeffer-

son City : H. Willcox. 1871. (8vo. pp. 183.)

The first sixty pages of this valuable Report are occupied by an elaborate and most useful account of the species of Curculionidce that are very injurious to fruits and vegetables, together with notices of their parasites and the best means of combatting their ravages. Then follow descriptiens of eleven different insects that are to the and notices injurious grape-vine ; of the Colorado Potato Beetle, the Apple Codling Moth, the Corn-worm, the Fall Army-worm, the Apple-tree and the Forest Tent Caterpillars, the Fall the and the Pinion Web-worm, Blue-spangled Peach-worm, Ash-gray ; a description of the Classy-winged Soldier-bug, a new friend to the grape- I 8 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

and an interest- ; an account of the White-lined grower Morning Sphinx ; ing article on the Archippus Butterfly and its mimic, the Disippus. We give a full list of the contents of this volume in order to show our readers how replete it is with valuable and interesting matter, whether regarded in a scientific or economic point of view, and whether referred to for information on the common pests of our gardens, or as a contribution to the Darwinian controversies of the day. The whole volume, we must not omit to add, is handsomely illustrated with over seventy of Mr. Riley's admirable drawings. The following new species of insects are described and figured in the course of the volume : —Coleoptera, Analcis fragarue,

Bruchus fabce ; Lepidoptera, Amphipyra couspersa, Xylina cinerea; Dip- tera, Tachina arcMppivora ; Hymenoptera, Porizon conotrachela, Microgas- ter limenitidos.

First Annua/ Report of the Geological Survey of Indiana, t 8C9. By E. T. Cox, State Geologist.

We are much indebted to Dr. (i. M. Levette for these two handsome volumes.

Embryological Studies on Dipla.v, Perithemis, and the Thysanurous Genus Isotoma.' By A, S. Packard, jun. Salem: 1871. Being the Second Memoir of the Peabody Academy of Science.

A valuable contribution to Embryology, very handsomely printed and illustrated by three excellent plates, besides several woodcuts.

Second and Third Annual Reports of the Trustees of the Peabody Academy

of Science for the Years 1S69 and 1870. Salem : 187 1.

7 'he Butterflies of North America : with Colored Drawings and Descrip-

tions. By Wm. H. Edwards. Philadelphia : The American Ento- mological Society, Jan., 1871.

This magnificent work has now reached its seventh part, and shows no signs of falling off either in the beauty or excellence of its plates or the value of its letterpress. All Entomologists who can possibly afford to be subscribers will find the of each new it, ought ; they reception number a source of intense delight, somewhat similar to that experienced upon the capture of a new or rare species. The eighth part, Mr.

Edwards informs will be in a few the last is us, ready days ; plate now in the hands of the colourist. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 79

On Asymetry in the Appendages of Hexapod Insects. IV S. H. Scudder

and Edw. Bursress. Boston : 1870.

This essay treats especially of the Lepidopterous genus Nisoniades, and is illustrated by a large plate.

Catalogue of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. By Geo. Dimmock. Springfield,

Mass. : April, 187 1.

Catalogue of Canadian Birds, Insects and Squirrels, collected in the vicinity of Toronto, by Dr. A. N. Ross. 1870.

Proceedings and Transactions of the Nova Scotia// Institute of Natural

Science. Vol. ii., part 4, May, 1870.

Contains many interesting articles, and a complete index to previous volumes.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Lepidoptera from Florida. —We have received a small collection of Lepidoptera from Mr. Joseph E. Chase, Holyoke, Mass., that were taken in the State of Florida : it has afforded us pleasure to identify them for him. No. the larva is said Dr. Clemens 1, Enyo lugubris, Drury ; by to feed the common we therefore, to upon Virginian Creeper ; may hope, hnd this Sphinx in Canada,— as its food-plant is very abundant. No.— 2. Agraulis vanillas. Linn. two specimens. No. 3, Terias lisa Boisd. has occasionally been taken in Canada. No. 4, jfunonia cee/iia Hubn.- also occasionally found in this country. No. 5, Pieris mo/zusta Codt.

(P. cleomenes Boisd. and Lee.) : a male and female, the latter distinguished by the smoky colour of its under surface. No. 6, Callidryas eubule Linn, a the male be from the female pair ; may distinguished the immaculate colour of its surface. No. by lovely — yellow upper 7, Papilio tl/oas Linn. taken occasionally in Canada. No. 8, Cluerocanipa tersa Linn. No. 9. Melitcea ?—a species quite new to us, and probably undescribed.

Personal. —We very much regret to learn, from the communication of our esteemed correspondent, W. H. Edwards, Coalburgh, West Vir- ginia, contained in the present number, that his dwelling has recently been consumed by fire, and with it some portion of his Entomological material. We sincerely hope that he succeeded in saving his valuable collection of Lepidoptera. — Ed. C. E. 80 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

REMITTANCES RECEIVED SINCE ISSUE OF No. 2, Vol. III.

Mus. Com. Dr. S. V. St. Zoo., Cambridge, Mass., $8 ; S., Louis, Mo.,

$1 : M. M. Kirkwood, Mo., $1 : Quebec Branch, $10 : J. G. B., Quebec.

II. I, : T. $2.76; M.. Maiden. Mass.. $1 S., New Aberdeen, Ont., $1 ;

W. C, Hespeler, $1 : A. 1.., Hamilton, $1 ; Mechanics' Institute, Hamil.

; Hamil Rev. R. Hamilton. ; A. ton.$i B., $2 M., Hamilton, $1 ; J. F.,

; H. T. St. ton, $1 W. M., Hamilton, $1 ; O. P., Catharines, $1 ; J. K.,

C. Soc. Nat. ; Gait, $1.75; H., Waterville, Me., $1 ; Hist, Boston, $10.38

A. L. Beach C. New ; Brook- G., ville, $1 ; J. F., Albany, Ind., $1 J. A.,

Dr. ; S. lyn, N.V., $1 ; F. B. K., Reading, Mass., $r Dr. A. S., Reading.

San ; A. C, S. Mass., $1 ; J. B., Francisco, $2.13 J. $1 ; W., Cooksville,

: West M. ; Rev. E. A. $1 J. H., Farms, N.V., $1 ; J. J., Halifax, $5 D.,

; H. K. M.. Mass., A. M.. Baltimore, Md., $1 Boston, $1 ; England, $1.

EXCHANGES, &c. Eepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds* Eggs. Eepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates ©f which I should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named.— Joseph E. Chase, Eock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass.

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Eepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. — Address II. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street, Boston, Mass. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pixs. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont.; W. Couper, Naturalist. Montreal, G. P. P.Q. ; Bowles, Canadian Institute, J. Quebec, Q.; J. Johnston, > Toronto, Ont. United States.-—The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; J. Y. Green, Newport, Vt.; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadway, New York. <% Canadian Entomologist.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1871. No. 5.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES DURING A TRIP TO LAKES HURON AND SUPERIOR.

BY THE EDITOR.

It was recently my good fortune to spend a very pleasant fortnight—from August 10 to August 24—on Lakes Huren and Superior, chiefly with a view to obtain a thorough rest from work of every description, and to enjoy the pure bracing air and splendid scenery of these inland seas. The greater portion of the time was spent on the steamboats Algoma and Ckicora, and as most of the stoppages at the various ports were made at night, I had few opportunities for collecting insects. I remained over, however, for five days on the Canadian side at Sault Ste. Marie, and devoted as much of the time as I possibly could to the investigation of the insects of the neighborhood. During the summer of 1870, I also paid a short visit to the Sault, and passed a few days there and at Garden River, and Bruce Mines. On that occasion, as I accompanied the Bishop of Toronto on his Confirmation tour among the Indians, I had no opportunity to do more than pick up a few specimens here and there these I shall of this ; mention, with the captives year, under their different localities. So few Entomological investigations have been made in that far-stretching north-western region, that I do not hesitate to occupy a portion of our space with an account of the little I have been able to do myself, and trust that it may be of interest to the reader. LEPIDOPTERA RHOPALOCERA.

Pieris oleracea Boisd. (P. casta, Kirby). —Very common at Collingwood

both last and this ; a few at Bruce not year observed Mines ; uncommon at Sault Ste. Marie. Taken on the north shore of Lake Superior by Agassiz's •Expedition in 1848. Colias philodice Godt.— Plentiful at Collingwood, Bruce Mines, and St. Island abundant at the Sault. Joseph's ; excessively 82 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Colias eurytheme Boisd. — A single specimen observed at Bruce at This Mines ; not uncommon Sault Ste. Marie. handsome orange butterfly was quite a prize to me, as I had never before seen it alive, and rarely in cabinets. Its habits appeared to be similar to those of C. but its was much more it ever rested philodice, flight rapid ; hardly for more than an instant at a time, and could not be captured without a long and exciting chase. I was enabled, however, to obtain about a dozen specimens, with the assistance of some young friends at the Sault, who became speedily infected with my entomological ardor, and before I left, commenced to form collections for themselves. If they keep up the pursuit, they will no doubt be able to afford us, by and by, much valuable information^respecting the insect fauna of the locality.

Among the dozen specimens of C. euryihenie, I only found one female ; probably as the specimens were all fresh and in good order, the females do not appear till a few days later than the males. Colias Keewaydin Edwards. —One male specimen taken at the Sault.

1 have little doubt that'this is merely a variety of the preceding species. For description and admirable figures of both, see Edwards' Butterflies of North America, Part IV. Danais arcJiifpus Cramer. —But very few specimens seen at the Sault; a single one flew across the steamer when on Georgian Bay, fifteen or twentv miles from the nearest land. Taken on the north shore of

Lake Superior by Agassiz's Expedition.

Argynnis cybele Fabr. —A single specimen taken at Sault Ste. Marie. — shore Argynnis aphrodite Fabr. Sault Ste. Marie ; abundant. North of L. Superior (Agassiz). Cramer. —Sault Ste. Marie abundant. North Argynnis inyrina ; very Shore of L. Superior (Agassiz).

Grapta interrogationis Fabr. —Sault Ste. Marie : a single specimen. Cramer. ---Sault Ste. Marie rare. Grapta progne — ; Vanessa antiopa Linn. St. Joseph's Island and Sault Ste. Marie ; not at all common, compared with its usual abundance in the Southern parts of Ontario. Vanessa Milbertl Godt. —Sault Ste. Marie: rare. }'ancssa J-album Boisd, and Lee. -—Bruce Mines. St. Joseph's and Sault Ste. Marie abundant. North shore of Lake Island, ; very Superior (Agassiz), THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 83

Pyrantels huhtera Drury. —Sault Ste. Marie; rare Pvrameis cardui Linn. — Larva found feeding on thistle at the Sault, but no specimen of the imago seen. Americana Harris. — Sault Ste. Marie abundant. Polyommatus ; very Hesperia ?—A species quite new to me, with very distinct white spots on the under side. I have not yet had time to look up authorities for its determination. It appeared to be quite common on St. Joseph's Island and at Sault Ste. Marie.

The foregoing list includes all the species of butterflies that I observed. The only others found by the Agassiz Expedition on the northern shores of Lake Superior were Colias pcHdiic! Boisd. ; Colias

? chrysotheme Esper. (probably the species that I met with) : C. Eury- i/ieme Boisd.); Limenitis arthemis Drury. ;'and Melitiva cocyta Cramer." LEPIDOPTERA HETEROCERA. — Deilephila ehamtcnerii Harris. A single specimen hovering abotit Petunias and other flowers in a garden at Sault Ste. Marie. North shore of Lake Superior (Agassiz). , Fabr. —One Garden River. Eudryas grata specimen ; — Lycomorpha pliolus Drury. Several specimens on lichen-covered rocks at Bruce Mines.

Hypoprcpia fucosa Hubn. (Gmphria vittata Harris). Bruce Mines and Sault Ste. Marie ; several specimens. UtetJuisa bdla Linn.—Bruce Mines; one specimen. Arctia Saimdersii Grote. —Garden River two ; specimens. Samia cecropia Linn. A large number of the larvae of this moth were observed last summer on a young plum tree at Collingwood. Acronycta acericola Guen.- Larva found feeding on Cornel at Sault Ste. Marie. — Nephelodes mmiaus Guen. Attracted by light, Sault Ste. Marie. Agrotis jaculifera Guen. —Garden River. Graphiphora baja Gmel. —Sault Ste. Marie. Erasiria carneola Guen. —Sault Ste. Marie.

Plusia balluca Gever. —Sault Ste. Marie. Plusia simplex Guen. —Sault Ste. Marie. Plusia ?—Two specimens of a species quite new to me, and which I not have yet determined ; Sault Ste. Marie.

* Agassiz's Lake Superior, page 392. 8 4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

— Catocala concumbens Walk.- Two specimens, apparently a variety of this Sault Ste. species ; Marie. They were captured flying in the day time. A few more moths, chiefly small species, were taken at various points, but have not yet been determined, from want of leisure. I may mention that I saw at Collingwood, in a lady's drawing-room, a specimen of the gigantic moth Erebus odora Linn., that had been captured a few years ago in the neighborhood. This makes the third specimen that, so far as we know, has been taken in Canada.

I shall endeavour to give a list of the Coleoptera and other insects taken, in a future number of this journal.

M1CRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAM HERS, COVINGTON, KV

[Continued from page 58.]

— LITHOCOLLETIS. y. L. virginiella. N. sp.

white half of the anterior ; there Silvery ; apical wings pale golden is a long, pale golden basal streak situated just within the costal margin, and strongly dark margined towards t/ie dorsal ma/gin, and extending to t/ie pale golden of the apical portion of the wing. In the pale golden portion are four silvery costal and two silvery dorsal streaks, ail dark the first dorsal first costal streaks margined internally ; and opposite, and both very oblique, and almost confluent in the middle of

the second dorsal the second costal. black ; wing ; opposite Apical spot hinder line, at the base of the cilia?, dark brown cilia? marginal ; silvery. Alar. ex. fv in.

The larva is cylindrical, small, first segment (after the head) largest, and tapering thinner to the anal segment. Very pale greenish, with a transverse dark brown macula on top of each segment. It is another instance of a larva of the first group mining the upper surface of the leaf. It mines the leaves of the Ironwood or Hornbeam (Ostrya virginica).

The mine is a very white blotch, flat at first, but finally the leaf is completely folded upwards. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 85

There are five species of Lithocollctis mining the leaves of O. Vir- ginica, two of which have been described by Dr. Clemens, and two others in my collection are yet to be described. This species is smaller than any of those mentioned in my former communication, and differs from in them the larval state ; the differences from them in the imago are indicated by the italics. Kentucky—not abundant.

Since my former communication I have had L. Ckmensella {Ante, p. 57), from mines on the under side of the leaves of the sugar maple (A. saccharinnm), identical with those of Z. lucidicostcUa Clem., and which I / that the supposed were the mines of that species ; but think pupa of Z. Clemensella inhabits an ovoid cocoon of frass. As the exclusion of a larva from its mine for the purpose of describing it, necessitates the death of the larva, and there are thus two species in mines exact! v alike, it follows that Dr. Clemens may have described the larva of Z. Clemensella as that of Z. lucidicostcUa.

Since then I have also taken L. caryce-albclla in U'isconsin. No doubt the other species mentioned also occur there, as their food plants all thrive as far north as Green Bay.

— tiliceclla. Erratum. For L. tiliacella ante, p. 56, read Z.

SECTION b.

Dh'. r. —Anterior ivings golden, saffron, orange-reddish or brownish- yellow.

Sub-div. a, with an apical spot.

'•'With a basal streak.

f Without fascia, but with dorsal and costal streaks.

8. —Z. Ostrytpfoliella Clem., loc. cit. supra. — " " " 9. L. Obscuricostclla

I have found both of these species in Kentucky, though the former is rather rare. Both mine the leaves of the Ironwood (Ostrya Vir- Z. ginica). Z. Obscuricostclla has the basal streak dark margined. has it and there are other differences be- Ostrycefoliella unmargined ; tween them. Both are small At. ex. less than inch. Larvae of ; ]/A first (cylindrical) group mines on the under surface. 86 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

10. —L. robiniclla Clem., lac. cit.

Argyromiges pseudacaciella Fitch., jth Rep., Sec. 333. " " " Argyromiges Morrisella ? 336. " " " Argyromiges Uhleretta / 33 y.

An examination of a large series of specimens shows, 1 think. that A. Morrisella, A. Uhlcrclla, and A. pseudacaciella. are merely variations or worn specimens of the same insect, which, having been previously described by Dr. Clemens in an English publication (The Entomologist), should be. called L, robiniclla. There is seme variation in the ornamentation of the species. In seme the apical spot is

is : is a circular ; in others it a short streak rather than a spot there difference in the intensity and extent of the brown coloring- of the dorsal margin of the wings, and sometimes the first dorsal streak (or rather that described as such by Dr. Clemens), is divided by a black streak on the dorsal margin so as to make it almost V-shaped. In all. the basal portion of the dorsal margin is black, and in this black is dorsal or portion (near the basal }£) a paler (or cinereous) spot streak, which is between the first dorsal streak of Clemens' and the base. " Or. Clemens placed this species in the section having no basal streak." But the black dorso-basal portion above mentioned is bordered on the fold by a paler, rather cinereous, median basal streak, which curves towards the dorsal margin, and unites with the cinereous dorsal spot.

Sometimes, and in some lights, both this streak and spot are indistinct or invisible, but in others they are distinct, and sometimes the streak is, at the white. . //. ex. inch. Wisconsin. base, distinctly '4.' Common. Ken tuckw

The larva is cylindrical, and mines the leaves of the Locust (Robinia pscudacacia). Dr. Clemens records it as mining the under side only, but 1 find it about as frequently mining the upper as the under side, and have frequently bred it from both mines. This is another instance of a cylindrical larva mining the upper surface. In the multitude of larvae from the under surface that I have examined, I have found no variation in

larvce of the same age, and none are marked with macula: ; whilst usually, though not always, the larva from the upper surface has a distinct dark brown macula on top of each segment. The mine upon the upper surface is also rather smaller, and is usually on the midrib, and THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the leaf is more folded. Biit I have not been able to detect any difference between the Imagines. Dr. Clemens also records it as mining the leaves of Amphicarpaa or but botanical friends tell me that A. monoica monoica, Hog pea-nut ; my is not found in this locality, and I have not met with it. LOCUST LEAF MINERS.

What is Anacampsis robiniella Fitch, j/// Rep., Sec. 334. 1

Dr. Fitch says that the mine is white blister-like, and on the underside of the leaves of the locust. I quite concur with Dr. Clemens that this is the mine of L. robiniella, supra, and that there is no other similar mine upon the under side of these leaves. But there is both upon the upper and under side of the leaves a flat, pale yellowish mine containing the larva described by Dr. Fitch as that of his Anacampsis robiniella. This larva is the same which I had before me as stated, Ante p. 54, and which, like Dr. Clemens, 1 supposed to be a Lithocolletis larva of the second (Hat) group. In fact it is identical with the larvae of that group in structure and appearance, except that the sides of the segments are perhaps a in error in little more mammilated ; and thus Dr. Clemens was supposing that the flat larvae were confined to the upper surface, for this mines both surfaces indifferently. It is pale green, with a line of dark green contents.

The mine always remains flat, and the larva usually leaves it, and enters the pupa state on the ground in a cocoon, described by Dr. Fitch as being "a small, broad, oval cocoon. o-i8th in. long, and o-i2th in. thick,*' woven, however, of pale yellow instead of white silk, as stated by Dr.

it in the mine. larva is of Pitch ; sometimes, however, pupates The about the same length as the cocoon. Vet Dr. Fitch describes the

Imago as having an expanse of 0-45 in. ! Since the remarks at p. 54 ante were written, I have bred the imago from these cocoons, and instead of

Anacampsis robiniella. I obtained an undescribed Lencanthiza, to be hereafter described as /. omatella. and which for the richness and brilliancy of its tints is not surpassed by any insect known to me. It

could not by any possibility be mistaken for Anacampsis robiniella. I )r. Packard {Guide p. 349), describes Depressaria robiniella, which can not possibly be the Anacampsis, and I propose hereafter to describe as Depressaria pseudacaciella, still another species, the young larva of which lives as a guest, or rather as an intruder, in the mines of L. robiniella, Leucanthiza omatella. and Parectopa robiniella. (I have seen it cut its 88 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

way into the mines). But by no possibility could this species be mistaken for the Anacampsis, nor could Parectopa robinietta. It is therefore pretty evident that Dr. Fitch's Anacampsis is composed of the mine of Lithocollctis robiniella, the larva of Leucanthiza ornatclla, and of an unknown imago. Jt cannot be supposed that Dr. Fitch mistook a LitJiocolletis or a Leucanthiza, or any other insect included in Argyromiges Curtis, for an Anacampsis, which includes Gelechia and kindred genera. Dr. F. describes Anacampsis robiniella, and on the next page, Argyromiges pseudacaciella, and was therefore fully aware- of the difference between the genera; and his A. robinietta is no doubt a Gelechia or closely allied thereto.

On two or three occasions L found in the mines of LitJiocolletis robiniella, and in company with it, a much larger larva, of which 1 kept no description, and which I did not succeed in raising to the imago. It lived in the mine in a tubular passage or channel formed of frass, and may prove to be the larva of the lost . Inacaupsis. 1 know no other miners of the Locust.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirby's Fauna Boreali-Aniericana : Insecta.

(Continued from Paye &2.)

[73.] 107. COLYMBETES TRISERIATUS, Kirby.- Length of body 7^ lines. A single specimen taken. I have a specimen also from New England, taken by Professor Peck. Body elliptical, rather depressed, underneath black, and covered with an infinity of branching or confluent wrinkles, as if scratched by a pin or needle. Head black, anteriorly testaceous, between the eyes is a pair of transverse red spots : antennas and palpi testaceous, dusky at the tips : prothorax testaceous with an abbreviated, sub-bilobed, discoidal

band acuducted so as to net-work : ; variously somewhat resemble scutellum ferruginous, black at the base, very minutely and confluently punctured : elytra dusky, which colour, for they are really lurid or dirty yellow, is produced by an infinity of transverse black lines or furrows, but which at the lateral lose their blackness besides these there are margin ; three rows of punctures arranged longitudinally but not regularly, the first TPtE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 89

the two others discoidal between the adjoining the suture, and being ; outer one and the margin, especially near the apex, are some scattered punctures; the epipleura, and sides of the tore-breast, are yellow: legs

testaceous and t i V) I re ; thighs punctured.

This species is intermediate between C. sirjatus and C. dolabrahrs, with the former it agrees in the majority of its characters, particularly in the longitudinal rows of punctures, except that its sutural cue is mpre and with the latter in the band and the color of the perfect ; prothoracic are rather than those ct legs. The transverse farrows of the elytra deeper the first-mentioned species, and not so deep as those of the last. as a These insects, adding C. fttsats, may perhaps be regarded forming subgenus, whose common character is the peculiar sculpture of the elytra. with C. Harris a taken in [Synonymous scitfptilis ; species Canada.] 10S. COLYMBETES (Hvdaticus) Rugtcollis, Kirby. — Length of body 6 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch. rather and underneath rufous [74.] Body obovate depressed; cloudy with dusky. Head subrufous, dusky behind; antenna? and palpi yel- at the with the acuminate, lowish, dusky tip ; prothorax posterior angle subrufous, dusky in the disk, posteriorly scratched longitudinally as if by reticulated or a pin ; elytra pale-yellow, thickly and minutely vermiculated

with black lateral ; ; margin yellow, unspotted epileura yellow ; prester- num This to C. H. irroraius. depressed. species appears represent — 109. Colymbetes (Hydaticus) MacCullochii, Kirby. Length of body 5^4 lines. Several taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch.

Body obovate, depressed, glossy ; underneath black, continently and wrinkled. Head black punctured posteriorly minutely punctured, ; its a the nose, mouth, and organs, and band between eyes pale yellow ;

antennae pale with the joints above dusky at the tip : prothorax punctured, pale yellow, with a discoidal band, dilated at each extremity and sur-

rounded by a black margin of the same colour : elytra black, sprinkled to the is a with innumerable pale-yellow dots ; near apex pale, angular,

it the undulated band, anel beycrld a round white spot ; margin of the

elytrum is paler than the rest : the three intermediate ventral segments of the abdomen have each a pair of roundish pale spots, one en each side; the four anterior legs are pale yellow. [Previously described as Acilius

Mediaius —Ent. Works ii. Say 508.] — no. Dytiscus ooligeukii, Kirbx. Length of body : male. 1 inch 90 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

i and 4 lines ; female, inch and 5 lines. A pair were taken by the

Esquimaux Ooligbuk in the Great Bear Lake River. [75.] As this species was taken by the useful, worthy and honest Esquimaux Ooligbuk, I trust I may be excused for giving— to it his name. [Previously described as Dytiscus— conftuens by Say for description vide Say's Ent. Works ii. the State its it ]). 554. He gives of Maine as habitat; was taken on the north shore of Lake Superior by Agassiz's Expedition, and is now included in the list of Canadian Coleoptera. Its range, it will be observed, is thus a very wide one.]

— 1 [76.] in. Dvtiscus Harrisii Kirby. Length of the body inch and 8 lines. One specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland House.

Body black, underneath banded and clouded with pale chestnut. Head smooth; nose, upperlip, and palpi, reddish-yellow; the latter with the last joint dusky; between the eyes is an obscure, roundish, red spot; prcthorax smooth, except an anterior transverse series of punctures which does not reach the sides as in the it is surrounded ; preceding species by a broad reddish-yellow margin : sculpture of the elytra like that of D. but not so at the side Ooligbukii, etc., grossly punctured apex ; reddish-yellow, the yellow stripe terminating in a fork or two branches, the upper one not consisting of dots as in D. Marginalis, etc., but entire

and toothed : a reddish-yellow arch marks the dilated posterior coxae, and the base of the is of the colour arms and abdomen same ; # thighs,

pale chestnut, tibiae and tarsi of the four posterior legs black : the lobes of the metasternum are remarkablv obtuse. I have named this insect after a very eminent American Entomologist, Dr. T. W. Harris, who well merits such distinction. [One of our commonest Canadian species of large water-beetles. North shore of Lake Superior (Agassiz). A specimen in my cabinet flew in at an open window attracted by light, July 1, 1S64.

112. Plate ii. 1. [77.] Dvtiscus (Lcionoius) Fraxklinii Kirby. fig.

— Length of bedy 1 inch and 4 lines. A pair taken in Lat. 65 .

Male. as if covered with varnish under, Body oblong-ovate, glossy ; neath black and banded with chestnut above dark in spotted pale ; olive, certain lights of a beautiful olive-green. Head with a very few minute, antennae chestnut mandibles and scarcely discernible, punctures ; ; palpi black nose, of the and side of the ; upperlip, margins prothorax, elytra,

dusky yellow : prothorax distinctly channelled, surrounded within the THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 91

margin with an irregular series of punctures, interrupted at all the angles, and in the middle anteriorly and posteriorly : elytra sculptured, as in the two preceding species, except that there are several very obsolete rows of flat granules, scarcely discernible, between the suture and the first row of

and there is no band or near the : punctures ; yellow oblique gleam apex with the arms intermediate or lurid legs black, and thighs dusky dusky ; the mere than the lobes of metasternum very acute, usually diverging ; incurved a little at the apex.

still Female. Head more visibly, though very minutely, punctured ; more at the prothorax minutely punctured ; elytra coarsely punctured tibiae tarsi black and apex ; legs dusky lurid, posterior darker, ; scapulars, the Avrinkled ; of mesostethium parapleural grossly punctured angle ; of the metaster- posterior coxae lightly, but not thickly, punctured ; lobes num very acute, not incurved on the apex. [Considered by LeConte to be a variety of D. Confluctis Say.] FAMILY GYRINIBJE.

— of lines. [78.] 113. Cyclinus assimilis Kirby Length body 5^ in lat obovate under- Two specimens taken 54 [79.] Body depressed, ; neath bronzed front glossy, black, slightly ; upperlip minutely punctured ; wrinkled between the nose on each side : eyes ; impressed prothorax anteriorly on each side with a transverse series of punctures parallel with the with a discoidal transverse at the base margin, and slight impression ; im- obtusangular an* somewhat wavy : elytra with nine very slightly the interstices of which are at the pressed furrows, minutely punctured ;

the are black-bronzed : and anus tes- apex elytra wavy ; epipleura legs taceous. This species approaches very near to Gyrinus Amcncatms belonging to the same genus, of which I at first regarded it as merely a in the variety, but upon comparing it with with the specimen preserved Linnean cabinet, it appears clearly distinct. This species is smaller, bronzed above, and the interstices of the furrows are without punctures. [Regarded by LeConte as synonymous with Dineutes (Gyrinus) Ameri- canus Linn. This species is common in Canada. LeConte (Pro. Acad.

it is most abundant Nat. Sci., Philada., Dec. 1868, p. 367), says that "our to species, usually known as apple bug; extends from Lake Superior Texas, and from Maine to Kansas."] 114. Gyrinus impressicollis Kirby. — Length of body 4 lines. Taken in Canada by Dr. Biersby. 92 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Body glossy, black underneath, above blue-black. Head a little bronzecf nose wrinkled frontal ; transversely impressed, ; impressions large and deep : prothorax with a deep anterior transverse impression, reaching nearly from side to side, in the centre of which is also a deep punctiform impression, and behind it on each side two others, but wrinkled and more shallow on each side also is a or boss : ; large gibbosity elytra with eleven rows of bronzed at their nearly oblong, shining punctures ; the are the also are bronzed apex punctures scattered, margins ; epipleura black the of the is obtuse and almost truncated : ; tip elytra very legs rufous. This species is very near G. marimis, but it is much larger, and is sufficiently distinguished from it by the deep furrow or channel that runs quite across the prothorax, its more prominent bosses, and its impressions. In G. i/iarinus, also, the punctures at the tip of the elytra are not but mark out a area and the scattered, crescent-shaped ; apex itself is not so obtuse. [Referred to G. borealis Aub£, by White. (Brit. Museum Cat. 45), but probably incorrectly.] — [80.] 115. Gyrinus /eneus Leach. Length of body 25 lines. Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. Very like the preceding species, but much smaller, the transverse impression of the nose and the frontal are not so that of the is not so impressions deep ; prothorax conspicuous, and there are no lateral bosses the are much narrower at the ; elytra apex, where, as in G. Marinus, a crescent is marked out by punctures.

116. Gyrinus ventralis Kirby. —Length of bocW 2 3- 3 lines. Two specimens taken in Lat. 54 .

Nearly related to G. ae/icus, but the whole prone surface of the body, the of the the are in which epipleura elytra, and legs, ferruginous ; particulars it resembles G. lineatus ; it is, however, much smaller than that species, the punctures in the rows are more conspicuous, and the elytra have no bronzed kk beautiful known its stripes. [ A species, easily by size brilliant surface in one the larger and more iridescent ; specimen in under surface is nearly black."—LeConte, loc. cit. p. 368. Taken Canada Mr. Pettit at Ont. also on north shore of Lake by Grimsby, ; Superior by Agassiz's Expedition. New York to L. Superior (LeConte).] — [81.] 117. Gyrinus analis Kirby. Length of body 3 lines. One specimen taken in Lat. 54^.

Near the preceding, but larger, punctures of the rows larger : breast bones black mouth, sides of the forebreast, and rufous ; the ; anus, legs, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 93 remainder of the underside of the body,— piceous : side-covers bronzed with a piceous tint. [Not G. analis Say. Ent. Works ii. 520.] 118. —Gyrinus MfNUTUS Fabr. —Length of body 2 lines. A single specimen taken in Lat. 65^. Variety B. Body above blue black, with the sides, particularly of the prothorax and elytra, bronzed; underneath piceous, with the lobes of the metasternum, anus, and legs, rufous : epipleura rufo-piceous. In other respects it precisely resembles the European specimens. \Vidc Le-

Conte, Pro. Acad. N. S., Phila., Dec. 1868, p.p. 370 and 372.]

[FAMILY STAPH YLINID.E.]

[86.] 119. P.ederus riparius Fabr. —Length of body 3 lines. Several taken in Lat. 54^.

Head, breast, two last joints of abdomen, base of the tibiae and apex of the thighs, black : prothorax, legs, and four first segments of the abdomen testaceous : dark blue antennae an elytra ; dusky. [Probably erroneous determination for P. littorarius, Grav.]— 120. Lathrobium puncticolle, Kirby. Length of body 5 lines.

A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 .

[87.] Body black, rather glossy, hairy except the prothorax. Head obovate, minutely and thickly punctured ; mandibles, palpi, and what remains of its mutilated antennae, dark chestnut : prothorax an oblong with all the rounded but not with square angles ; punctured, very thickly, scarcely any smooth longitudinal space : elytra longer than the prothorax, thickly punctured, of a dark chestnut : legs maghogany, cubit armed with a short wide tooth or prominence on the inner side at the base, the four first joints of the hand are dilated, indicating probably that the specimen is a male. This appears to be the representative of L. dcutatitm, E, which it nearly resembles, but the elytra are considerably longer, the colour of the legs is darker, and the humerus, or anterior thigh, is pro- has no tooth. in portionally smaller and [Taken Canada.] — . — ii. 2. 121. Lathrobium gravexhorstii Kirby. Plate fig. Length of body 4^2 lines. Two specimens taken in Lat. 54 . This species a good deal resembles the preceding, but the palpi, mouth, the remainder of the scape of the antenna?, arid legs, are testaceous, antennae is mandibles chestnut. Head : anterior darker ; oblong angles of the rounded a distinct intermediate prothorax scarcely ; longitudinal distin- smooth space adjoining which is a series of punctures strikingly 94 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

guishing this species from L. punctkolle, the sides of the prothorax are covered with scattered punctures : the tip of the segments of the abdomen, ventral as well as dorsal, is testaceous. [Synonymous with Cryptobium pallipes Grav. —a species taken in Canada.] 122. Lathrobium [Cryptobium] bicolor Grav. —Length of body 4; 3 lines. Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby.

[8S.] Body testaceous, hairy. Head oblong, wider than the pro- mandibles and other oral thorax, black, thickly punctured ; organs dusky- rufous antennas as as the of the same color but ; nearly long prothorax, at paler the base and apex : prothorax punctured with a smooth longitudinal intermediate space : elytra thickly punctured : abdomen black, anus testatceous. Gravenhorst describes Knoclis specimen, which also came from North America, as having dark chestnut thorax, elytra and anus in the color with the ; specimen here described they are of the same legs. The difference, as they agree in other respects, is probably accidental. [Common in Ontario.] 123. Gyrohypnus assimilis Kirby.— Length of body 9 lines. Two specimens taken in Lat. 54 . This species approaches very near to G. ochraccus, but is more slender in proportion to its length. Body black and glossy. Head rather larger than the thorax, behind the eyes are some rather large scattered antenna: and rufous neck punctures ; palpi ; rufo-piceous ; pro- a thorax piceous, with a triple series of punctures on each side leaving discoidal smooth the dorsal ones consist of seven or space ; eight punctures, and the intermediate ones are really a continuation of the dorsal, since by the intervention of a puncture or two both are united so as to form a a crosier the lateral series con- figure resembling bishop's ; sists of a few not seen near the anterior the very points, easily ; angle elytra are scarcely longer than the prothorax, punctured, with some of the in rows others scattered from the humeral to the punctures arranged and ; inner apical angle, they are internally yellowish-red, and externally blackish : — ii. —legs yellowish-red. [Previously described by Say Ent. Works 567 as Xantholinus ccphalus. Taken in Ontario.]

Errata. — In the last number of the Canadian Entomologist, vol. iii., page 70, in 8th line from top, for "larva" read "chrysalis;" and in nth line from top, for "•larvae" read "chrysalids." THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 95

ACCENTUATED LIST OF CANADIAN LEPIDOPTERA.

BY E. H. REED, LONDON, ONTARIO.

(Continued from page 151, vol. ii., Can. Est.)

* * # For rules of pronunciation sec page 122. vol. ii.. Can. Ent. — Nqte. Page 150, vol. ii., for Interrogationids read Interrogatio'nis.

JUNONIA—yunb'nia, named after the ancient goddess Juno, the insect having its wings adorned with eyes like the plumage of the peacock, the favorite bird of Juno. COENIA— Coe'niaSxom the Greek word Koinos: eommon or

kindred, this genera being closely allied to that of Vanessa or Pyrameis.

LIMENITIS—Zimenl'tis, a Greek word meaning harbotir-keeping, an epi- thet applied to several divinities, o. c.

URSULA— Ursula, a virgin and martyr of the 5th century.

ARTHEMJS—Ar'themis, the Greek name for the goddess Diana, o. c.

DISIPPUS-—Disip'pus, probably from the Latin disipo : to scatter; this insect being very common and having been for some time confounded with Archippus, another wide-spread species.

CHOINOBAS— CJwino'bas, from two Greek words kion, baino, signifying snow frequenters, so named by Boisduval on account of this genus being common to the most wintry parts of North America. BALDER—Bal'der, probably from the German Bald, Early.

NEONYMPHA—Neonym'p/ia, a Greek word signifying newly married.

EURYTHRIS—Eu'rythris, probably meant for Eurytis, a patronymic of Iole, the daughter of Eurytus, King of the Eubcean town CElchalia. — BOISDUVALLII Boisduval'/ii, named after Dr. Jean Alphonse Boisduval, the celebrated French Entomologist, the possessor of the finest known collection of Lepidoptera. 96 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. — EREBIA Ereb'ia, erebus, the region of darkness ; from the dark colors of this genus, o. c.

XEPHELE— Nepliele, the wife of Athamas, King of Thebes.

— a' DISCOIDALIS discoid lis, so called by Kirbv from the marks on the anterior like the Grecian discos. — wing SATYRUS Sat'yrus, a Satyr, a rustic Deity half man half goat. o. C. ALOPE—AT of of Eleusis. — ope, daughter Cercyon, King THECLA Thee'la, Virgin and martyr, o. c. AUGUSTUS, Augustus, named by Kirby after Augustus. one of the Esquimaux attendants of Sir John Franklin's Expedition. FALACER—Eal'acer, from the Greek Sphalax, buckthorn, on which the larva feeds. — NIPHON—Ni'phon, from the Greek gnlphbn, a niggard, the usual name for the old misers in the new attic come-

dies thus named Godart on account of its ; probably by

extreme rarity.

MOPSUS—Mop'sus, a soothsayer and King of.Argos. ACADICA—Acad'ica—Acadia, the former name of Nova Scotia, part of the Dominion of Canada. L/ETA— from the Latin — Lce'ta, Icetus, joyful. POLYOMMATUS Polyom'matus, from the Greek poluommatos, signifying many-eyed. PORSENNA—Porsenna, a King of Etruria. friendly to the Tarquins.

AMERICANA, America '//a, peculiar to America. — —— THOE— Tho'e, from the Greek thoos : nimble, active, signi- the of the insect. fying quick —darting flight perfect EPIXANTHE Epixarithe, from the Greek epixanthus : yelloiv-brown, alluding to the tawny color of the species. LUCIA—Lucia, Lycia, a country of Asia Minor.

DORCAS, Dorcas, derived from the Greek dcrkomai : to like £leam or flash the eye. in allusion to the quick, jerky

llight of the insert. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1>7

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Personal.—-We beg to acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of some eggs of Saturnia Eglanierina Boisd., from Prof. J as. Behrens,of San

Francisco, Cal. The eggs arrived in perfect safety, and will, we trust. produce some good specimens. We shall be glad to receive from Prof. Behrens any Entomological material for our pages. Ed. C. E. In No. 4 of the Canadian Entomologist, Mr. Couper makes some remarks in reference to the larvae infesting acorns. Having just succeeded in breeding the imago I can throw some light on the subject. On October

11, rSyo, I happened to observe that the acorns of a red oak ( Qjtcrcus rubra) contained larvae of some sort, and, making an examination. I found many ot them containing from one to four short stout footless grubs, that

I supposed were the larvae of some species of curculionidce.. ( Hhers in which a hole had been made and carefully closed again, contained Lepi- dopterous larvae, varying greatly in size in different specimens. Whether there were parasites, or merely took possession of the acorns after they were abandoned by the curculio larva?. I was unable to decide. Taking

home a couple of quarts of the acorns, I put about half of them in a glass-covered box with a couple of inches of earth at the bottom, and the remainder in a dry box with glass sides. In both cases the larvae began directly to leave the acorns, those in the box containing earth immediatelv burrowing out of sight, while those in the other box continued to crawl from side to side until cold weather came on, by which time all the acorns were abandoned except those containing" lepidopterous larvae. Soon after cold weather set in, the unprotected curculio larvae shrivelled up and died. By digging at different times in the earth in the other box, 1 ascertained not only that the grubs were alive, but that they remained in the larval state during the winter, spring, and first part of summer. In the latter part of July, 1871, the first pupa was obtained, and on August 20th I turned up an imago and also a larva. On the 23rd day of August the first mature imago made its appearance, since when they have continued to come out at the rate of one a day. The species is without doubt the list Baianinus nasicus Say, of the Canadian of Cpleoptera ; but Dr. Horn informs me that it cannot be referred to any of our named species. I have live specimens dark in color and somewhat mottled. I put a branch with a few acorns on it into the cage with them, and saw a couple shortly 98 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

after paired on an acorn. I am anxious to see them at work puncturing the acorns. As I set out with the sole hope of breeding the curculio, 1 paid but little attention to the moths, two or three of which came— out but, with one exception, were dead and spoiled when found. J. Pettit, ( irimsby. Out.

Ax Intelligent Spider. — 1 was much interested lately in observing the ingenuity of a large spider which had constructed his web between a ladder and the wall of an outhouse in my yard. The web was planned on a magnificent scale, the supporting cable ( n the lower side requiring to be at least four feet in length. A piece of thick twine, about eighteen inches long, happened to be suspended to the wall by a tack, at a convenient height from the ground, and the spider, noticing the twine, had contrived to make it form part of the support of the web, by fastening his

cable to the end of it. and then pulling it tight. The twine was drawn out almost horizontally by the ingenious spider, who certainly showed something— a little beyond instinct in thus taking advantage of circumstances. (i. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.

A New Insect-enemy of Turnips and Rape. — You are perfectly aware that I do not possess any scientific knowledge in Entomology, but as you have so laudably set apart a portion of the Entomologist for record- ing facts connected with economic Pmtomology, I know that you will be pleased to receive any trustworthy testimony on behalf of such. Last evening my brother and 1, while walking across a piece of newly-sown rape (Brassica Xapus), discovered that thousands of minute insects—so minute that my pocket lens was not sufficiently powerful to reveal the order they belonged to—were puncturing and feeding on the cotyledons,

( r first leaves and so did off that I had to return ; quickly they spring home for some gum and a sheet of white paper, which, when well gummed and hastily turned over the plant, secured about a score specimens, and these I have to-day forwarded to you in a box, the bottom of which had also to be thickly gummed to keep the little skipping fellows in. Though they may turn out to be the commonest of all known insects, these are new to me as destructive to and for, certainly being rape turnips ; although I have farmed extensively for twenty years. I never noticed them before and I think will that I not ; you agree with me do always "go about with my eyes shut." I know that little pest the turnip-fly, (Altica too well but these destructive and Nemorum), only ; appear equally THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 99

nimble. Will therefore tell me their and what equally you — kindly names, you know of their economy ?- Henry Reeks, EastWoodhay, May 24, 187 1. — for [Ans. These minute insects were so clogged with the gum introduced the purpose of preventing their escape, that I cannot decide with certainty on their names : I believe, however, that they are a species of Poduridae, perhaps Smynthurus fuscus. I should much like to see living specimens ; they may be sent safely in a glass tube. The fact of such insects being- destructive to rape and turnips is quite new to me. and is very interesting.] — The Entomologist', July, 1871.

Entomologists 1 x FRANCE.--The second seige, by which Paris has suffered so much, has spared the persons of entomologists, but has utterly annihilated or Lrreatlv damaged many of their collections and libraries. Dr. Laboulbene, who resided in the rue du Bac, had a part of his house caught by the flames, and a great part of his library destroyed. M. Poulard's collection was shattered to atoms by shells, and many collections have suffered great injury from the partial explosion of the Luxem- bourg powder-mills : happily a tenth part only of the powder exploded : had the project of exploding the whole been successful, the collections in the Museum itself must have been destroyed. M. de Marseul's collection is uninjured. Almost all the provincial entomologists of France are in safety, and eagerly pursuing their favorite study, a solace in their troubles. At Strasbourg the fine collection of M. Gauber is safe, and likewise those of MM. Koechlin and Zuber-Hofer at Dornach, while that of M. Guenee, at Chateaudun, has entirely escaped the destruction of the town by the Prussians, who have taken both the collections and the books ot M. Kstienne, from the same town.—Petites Nouvelles Entomologiqucs.

REMITTANCES.

Received si/iee issue of Vol. J, No. 4.

W. E. L. N. ; Dr. J. P., Indianapolis, Ind., $2 ; G., Prooklyn, V., $1

1). . LAY., A. H., Chattanooga, Ten., $1 Messrs. D. Bros., Montreal, $1 ; R.V. Ont., Grimsby, Ont., $1 ; Kingston Branch, Ont, $5 ; R., Kingston, X. Dr. H. Rev. $1 ; J. Y., Brooklyn, Y., $2 ; J. S., Toronto, Ont, $3 ;

P. F. P. ; H. F. N. D. Ste C, Nicolet, ()., $1 ; A., Cambridge, Mass., $1 H. S. Nat. Hist. B., Waterbury, Conn.,$i ; S., London, Eng., $1 ; Soc'y..

: ; V. T. Cincinnati, $1 C, Covington, Ky., $3 ; J. C, Kingston, $2.75

London Branch, Ont.. $10 ; G. D. S.. Boston. Mass., $1. 100 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c. The undersigned would be pleased to open communications with any Entomologist in Canada, United States or England with a view to ex- changing specimens. Address James Colwell, care of A. Choun, Kingston, Ont. The undersigned would be pleased to correspond with Lepidopter- ologists (Southern and Western U. S. preferred), with a view to exchanges. Address Edw. L. Graef, 40 Court St.. Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S.

Lepidoptera, &c- 1 have a collection of Birds* Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Elorida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which I - should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass.

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world.— Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler. 68, Pearl-street. Boston, Mass. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins.—We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of

Klaeger's pins, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. t being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each. List of Canadian Coleoptera.—Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families. 432 genera, and 1231 species. (Lor labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets. 1 to 2000. for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Canada. -E. B. Reed, London, Ont. : W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal, P.O.; G. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.: ] Johnston. Canadian Institute,

Toronto. ( )nt. United States.- -The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.;

f. Y. Green, Newport. Yt. : W. V. Andrews, Room T7. No. 137 Broadway, New York. Cjjt tataMn Entomology.

VOL. III. LONDON. ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1871. No. 6.

DESCRIPTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM ALABAMA.

BY AUG. R. GROTE.

1 have collected the following Lepidoptera in the country about Demopolis, Ala., lying at the junction of the Tombigbee and Black War- rior Rivers, it has been my aim to make as complete a collection as possible of the insects inhabiting this district, in which my residence has been lately fixed, but the time at my disposal for the purpose has been cruelly limited by other duties. The summer heats preclude much exertion during the best part of the day. Nevertheless, a great many Butterflies may be taken on the flowers of the wild mint and iron-weed, without much trouble or exposure. Our commonest Butterfly everywhere is Tcrias uicippc. Throughout the entire summer it swarms in myriads. It seems - to take the place here that Colias philodicc Alls in the Northern States.

This latter 1 here J a of have never seen ; have taken specimen C. Eurytheme. Papilla thoas is not uncommon, but its strong flight makes it to P. and P. are common P. asterlasaxid difficult capture. ajax philenor ;

P. I tumus are more infrequent ; the specimens have seen of the latter are J large sized, the female always black (J . glducus). ^'unouia coenia is very common. 1 have seen no species of Argynnis, but one Eresia, while Euptoieta claudia is frequently met with and I have reared it through all its stages. Libythea bachtnanii is found in July and August on the banks ol the rivers and about damp places on roads. Apaiura celtis is commonly seen. Limenitis Ursula more rarely. Callldryas Eubide becomes - plentiful at the beginning of August ; it is apparently double brooded. Meganostonia caesonla is infrequent. The commonest Hesperiid is Syricthus

while I have seen but a of 'us oileus, single specimen Heteropteras mar^itiat , so common in the north. At some future time I hope to give a list of all the Butterflies I have taken. in the Sphiftgida? I have only seen Sesia (iiffhus, Darapsa niyro/i, CJuzrocampa tersa, Macrosila Carolina, M. cingulata and Sphinx crcmitus. The Bombycidae seem very poor in numbers and species, while the Noctuidae are exceedingly rich in both. 102 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

So far, I cannot separate this region, zoologically speaking, from the middle States. Everywhere 1 meet familiar insects, and, although I miss many Northern species and find new ones, I see that I am still collecting in the Atlantic District of the United States. For the present paper 1 select the following Lepidoptera from my collections : Male. Thecla dolichos ( Attdidcs dolichos, Hubner Zutraege.) The ground color of the wings above is a dead black, but this is nearly entirely overlaid with a most brilliant deep and changeable metallic blue. On the the external and are ol the primaries ; margin narrowly apices ground color as well as an outwardly vaguely defined ovate discal spot.- On the Secondaries, the costal region about the apices is largely and the external margin very narrowly black. There are two tails : The first, obsolete at the extremity of the 2nd m. nervule; the second, long (6 m. m.) and flexile at the end of 3rd m. nervule. Below this, to anal angle, the wing is outwardly produced, and this exserted portion is medially cleft and shows golden powdery scales on paler blue interspaceal black-margined shade spots. Internal margin clothed with long blackish hair. Beneath the wings are dead black. The fore wings show two white dots at base and a median longitudinal metallic blue shade extending over, beyond and with about median-nervule : costal edge scarlet at base. Secondaries two scarlet basal internal shaded with metallic blue ; an patches ; margin pale interrupted pale metallic blue shade line runs along and within the external edge interruptedly from 1st m. nervule to the anal angle : on the exserted portion of the wing this is powdered with golden scales. Inside of this,— below 2nd m. nervule, is a very dark red band interrupted by the veins.- Inside of this a narrow line of golden atoms, very narrowly separated by the ground color of the wing from an inner golden similarly interrupted band, widening on the last interspace. Body above, metallic changeable blue, greenish (as is the base of the primaries) in certain lights, with longer hairs at the base of the thorax. Beneath the abdomen is scarlet, the thorax and legs black with white spots. Head black with a white spot on vertex ; eyes margined with white : palpi black, white at the base.-

Base of the head white : the ocular marginations are interrupted, forming- lines on the front and spots behind. Antennae rather stout, gradually swelled, black. Expanse, 42 m. m.

A single specimen taken on July 28th. on the outskirts of an open urassv wood. Its tliLrht was short and heavy, but this may have been THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. L<> : >

show- o wing to its evidently having recently left the chrysalis, its freshness ing off the incomparable beauty of the species.

Acidalia persimilata Grote. J °_ . This species, which 1 described

I in Ala originally from a specimen taken in Buffalo, X. Y., have found a bama. The male antense are finely pectinate. The wings above are of alone is dirty greenish grey, mottled in appearance. The outer line distinct this is waved, a dark linear shade tolerably ; whitish, preceded by and connecting a series of minute nervular dots. There is a row of whitish interspaceal sub-luniform dots on the terminal space tolerably evi- with dent. Fringes greyish. In shape, the primaries are triangulate, determinate secondaries reduced. There is a tine dark apices ; very terminal line on both wings which, as usual, agree in appearance. This is a frail species, readily losing its greenish tint. Exp., T9-20 m. m. In Mils. Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, Mass.

Acidalia purpurissata Grote. °_ . Size, small or moderate: external margin of wings rounded, apices of primaries indeterminate. Wine color, with a purple shade. Primaries crossed by three irregular, transverse defined a faint series of sub- yellowish lines, darkly inwardly ; terminal interspaceal maculations is visible superiorly. The outer of the three lines is slightly projected over the median nervules, curving inwardly opposite the disc. The costal region is shaded with pale yellow, and this color is continued over the collar and thorax in front. A very fine terminal black line edges both wings, interrupted by pale dots on the nervules. Fringes, rosy wine color, brighter than the wings. Secondaries crossed by two lines corresponding with the outer two of the primaries. Discal streaks on both wings analogous to the transverse lines. Beneath, paler, washed with rosy wine color, the secondaries almost wholly whitish with a roseate terminal shade. Abdomen above and thorax behind concolorous with wings, the former with yellowish dorsal marks. Antennae simple. Hind legs with a single reduced pair of spurs. Body, pale beneath. Exp., 17-19, m. m. Types in Mus. Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, Mass. Resembles the description of Acidalia pannaria Guenee, but differs in detail. Two specimens taken in the latter part ol

July. Botys PLUMBICOSTALIS Grote. $. Bright yellow. Costal region of primaries broadly dark plumbeous from base to tip. Terminal space outwardly filled with the same shade tapering to internal angle. This 104 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

terminal dark shade is outwardly rounded along its inner margin, and this is. widely and everywhere nearly equi-distant from the external transverse

line : at the internal angle there is a slight projection corresponding with the inward inferior inflection of the external line. The orbicular spot is reduced and absorbed above by the dark eostal region, as is the reniform; the latter is small, constricted, with a dark annulus, and very narrow pale is centre : both sp-ats concolorous with the dark costal region. There a short, dark, inner transverse line. The only other, the external, runs slightly inwardly below eosta, then outwardly over the m. uervules, where

it is in ir is sinuate or slightly interspaceally dentate ; thus, its upper half somewhat S-shaped. At 4th m. nervule, it runs, as usual, inward]}', thence transversely, to internal margin. The fringes are dark, concolorous with

the terminal shade. A single line crosses the secondaries, projects over the disc, and corresponds to the external line of the primaries. A distinct discal dot. shaded with Be- Apical angle plumbeous ; fringes, pale. neath, whitish, iridescent, markings of the upper surface faintly reflected. white with black. Legs ; anterior and middle femora, marked Palpal tips. front and vertex, and sides of thorax in front, dark. Thorax, clear yellow. Abdomen above, with a dark dorsal shade beneath the yellowish, ; body, parts are white. Hind legs entirely white, with two pair of unequal spurs. Exp., 30 m. m. August. Type in Mus. Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, Mass. Nearly as large as B. flavidalis Guenee, and very conspicuous by the dark shades of anterior wings.

Botys anticostalis Grotc. ^ . Bright yellow, with deeper ochreous tinges. This species has the markings and appearance of Botys pliimbkostaUs. Costa of primaries broadly plumbeous, but shading

to yellowish towards the tips. Ordinary spots larger, annulate, freer from

the C3stal shade ; their centers are whitish iridescent the has no ; $ orbicular, in its place the tegument is somewhat pellucid and impressed.

The two transverse lines are fainter and wider apart ; the transverse exterior differently shaped. This is outwardly rounded at costa, where it is twice interspaceally lunulate, and there is always here a narrow space between it and the terminal dark shade. This latter fills in the entire

terminal space superiorly, (except as above mentioned) between the external line and the margin, but is obsolete inferiorly below 3rd m. nervule, appearing as a spot at internal angle. Secondaries with a distinct discal spot and single transverse line. Apices with the commencement of THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 05

a dark terminal shade. Fringes on both wings pale. $ abdomen pointed at the with dorsal tip, elongate dark shade ; $ yellow above. Thorax sides of thorax before insertion of dark yellow ; bread, palpal lips, wings, as in B. Plumbicostalis. whitish anterior and middle Legs ; pair shaded with blackish. Exp. 25 m. m. July- August. Types in Mus. Peabody Academy of Science, Salem. Mass.

Smaller than but it at first Botys plumbicostalis, greatly resembling sight. On a comparison the difference above detailed are quite apparent. Besides the foregoing two species of Botys. 1 have taken the following

Pyralidce in the same locality, the two first in single specimens : Botys latidavia g. k., Botys plectilis <:;. r., Conchylodes platinalis Lederer, Stenophyes scrinalis Lederer. Phakellura hyalinata Milding, Phakellura nitidalis <;.. Desmia maculalis Westw.. a species of Croeidop/iora allied to and perhaps the same as C. pnslitlifera/is Lederer, and CindapJda bicolc- ralis {Asopia bicoloralis Guenee).

LIST OF COLEOPTERA.

TAKEN AT GRIMSBY, ONI'.. BY J. J'KTT

Continued from page 151, vol. ii.. Can. Ext CERAMBYC1D/E.

Latr. Parandra, Ki.APiiiDiON. Scrv. (continued). brunnea, Fabr. mucronatum, Say. ( )rthosoma, Serv. villosum, Fabr. cylindricum. Fabr. parallelum, Newm. Tragosqma, Sen.'. '•'pubescens, Hald. Harrisii, Lee. '"unicolor, Hald. Eburia, Sen\ notatum, Er. quadrigeminata. Say C R 1 OC E P II A L U S Mills. Chion, Nezum. , rusticus, Linn. garganicum, Fabr. agrestis, Kirby. Hi. \ phi Diox, Scrv. *atomarium, Drury. Asemum, Serv. vicinum, Hald. moestum, Hald. * Species marked with an asterisk have not before been included in the list of Canadian L'oleoptera. LOO THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

ARHOPALUS, Serv. GRAPHISURUS, Kirby. fulminans, Fabr. *pusillus, Kirby. Callidium, Fabr. faseiatus, Geer. violaceum, Linn. Aedilis, Serv. lignum, Fabr. obsoletus, Oliv. *amoenum, Say. Leptostylus, Lee. janthinum, Lee. aculiferus, Say.

Phym atod es, Muls. variegatus, Hald. proteus, Kirby. commixtus, Hald. Tylonotus, Hald. macula. Say. bimaculatus, Hald. Li opus, Lee. Physocnemum, Hald. *alpha, Say. Hald. brevilineum, Say. symmetricus. Lee. Clytus, Fabr. ''"signatus, •'rusticus, Lee. speciosus, Say. "''•' querci, Fitch. nobilis, //arris. maculatus, Hald. flexuosus, Fabr. aspersus, Say. erythrocephalus. Oliv. Lee. 1 use us, Fabr. EcYRUS,

campestris, Oliv. "Masycerus, Say. hamatus, Say. Eupogonius, Lee. •'"4-maculatus. Hald. '•'vestitus, Say. CyrtoPhorus, Lee. subarmatus, Let. verrucosus, Oliv. PoGONOCHERUS, Meg. Hald. ( )brium, Serv. mixtus, Lee. *rubrum, Newm. "nubilus, MONOHAMMUS, Lair. Etjderces, Lee. den ta tor, Fabr. picipes, Fabr. confusor, Kirby. < S 11 . N )PTERU S, Jllig. scutellatus, Say. sanguinicollis, Oliv. Goes, Lee. Molorchus, Fabr. tigrinus, Oliv. mellitus. Say. oculatus, Lee.

H ELIOMAN ES NtWfn . I'i.i , raopes, Dai;;/.

bimaculatus, Say. tornator, Fabr. Acaxthoderes, Serv. Psenocerus, Lee.

decipiens, Hald. pini, Oliv. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 10'

DorcAschema, LcY. AnthopHylax, LcY. nigrum, Say. malachiticus, H'ald. Saperda, Fabr. *altematus, Lee. calcarata, Say. Strangalia, Serv. tridentata, Oliv. subhamata, Rand. vestita, Say. bicolor, Swed. Cyrtinus, Lec. quagga, Germ. * py'gra ae u s . Hi r/

Rhagium, Fabr. biforis, Newm. lineatum, Oliv. vittata, Oliv.

Toxotus, Serv. vagans, Oliv. decoloratus, Harr. sphaericollis, Say. trivittatus, Say. mutabilis, Lee. '"cylindricollis, Say. pubera, Say. •'Schaumii, Lew 8-notata, Say. Encyclops, Newm. scalaris, Say. coeruleus, Say. subargentata, Kirby Lec. Evodinus, •'propinqua, Bland. Kami. monticola, proxima, Say. Lec. AqmaEops, capitata, Newn. proteus, Kirby. ruficollis. Saw

The Number of Insects. —The number of described species of insects is estimated by Gerstaecker at above one hundred and sixty

viz. : thousand, Coleoptera, ninety thousand ; Hymenoptera, twenty-five thousand thousand to ; Diptera, twenty-four ; Lepidoptera, twenty-two twenty-four thousand.—-Nature. Classification of Moths. —The great work by the Messrs. Felder on the Lepidoptera of the Novara (an Austrian) Exploring Expedition, will be completed this year. It will contain a complele classification of the moths, and will supplement Guenee's work on them.— American Naturalist. 108 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS. COVINGTON, KY

(Continued from page 88.

LITHOCOLLETIS.

unth an streak instead Sub-div. if, apical of spot. 5 With a basal streak.

t With dorsal and costal streaks. — ii. L. crateegella Clem., he. cit.

All of my specimens have a very pronounced though rather short white dorso-basal streak, which is sometimes continuous - with a longitudinal median white streak upon the thorax, and in all of them the median basal streak is continuous with a white line across the anterior margin of the thorax, which is extended backwards over the tegulae. The dorso-basal streak and the markings of the thorax and tegulae are not mentioned by Dr. Clemens. But these thoracic markings are very variable in a great many species. In some specimens ot some species no trace of them is

in : visible ; others they are very faint and in others thev are pronounced and distinct.

The larva mines the leaves of the Apple. Wild Cherry ( Primus serotina), Haw (Crataegus) and Sweet scented Crab (Pyrus coronariaj, on the under side. It is of the first group, and the mine is tentiform. Dr. Clemens records of it. that it quits one mine to form another— in- which it is singular. There is considerable variation in the shades of coloring, some species being much more golden than others, and the same specimen varies in

this respect with the light. Al. ex. A to -/V inch. Common in Kentucky, and probably wherever in America its food plants are found.

Sub.-div. c. No apical spot. Apex dusted. * No basal streak.

t No fascia, but with dorsal and costal streaks. — 12. L. nonfasciella. N. sp.

Face and white, tuft mixed with antennae palpi white, pale golden ;

white, each joint tipped with fuscous above ; thorax and anterior wings THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 109

mixed whitish and pale gulden, with a few dispersed fuscous scales, and in some irregular patches more thickly dusted with fuscous, especially the apical portion of the wing, which is dusted with fuscous. The anterior and lateral margins of the thorax and the wing along the fold and across the middle are paler than the other portions, but not sufficiently so, nor definite enough in outline, to call them streaks or fasciae. X in in Larva Al. ex. /A inch. Two specimens captured May Kentucky. it has unknown. The style of coloration is that of a Bucadatrix, but palpi.

13. —L Bethunella. N. sp. white antennae white brownish Face and palpi silvery ; silvery beneath, banded with white above; tuft golden, interspersed with white; thorax and anterior wings reddish-orange, with three costal and three dorsal silvery streaks, all dark margined externally, first costal and first dorsal small, the dorsal being the largest and nearer to the base, whilst the costal is a little oblique and at about the basal }i of the wing. The second dorsal and second costal about the middle, opposite each other. and a little oblique, the dorsal being the longest, and almost meeting the costal near the costa, whilst their dark margins do meet and are poste- third dorsal and riorly angulated and produced to the space between the third costal. The third dorsal and third coital are a little behind the

is dusted apical Yi, opposite, straight, and the dorsal the longest. Apex with blackish on a white ground. Ciliae fulvous, with a dark-brown

' It hinder marginal line at their base. . //. ex. a little over 4 inch. identical with. bears a strong resemblance to, .but is not by any means the species next mentioned. L. Caryafoliclla, in some oi the varieties oi

/, . Carycefoliella.

The larva is of the second (flat) group. It is yellowish, and the maculae are ferruginous-brown. The mine is an oval blotch on the upper

surface of the leaves of Black Oaks (Quercus tinctoria). Kentucky : rare, of the of the I take the libertv of naming it in honor Editor

( Ianadian Entomologist.

tt With one or more fasciae.

14. — /.. Carycefoliella. Clem., loc. cit.

first is not a fascia This is a variable species. Sometimes the fascia at all. but is only a long oblique dorsal streak not quite attaining the 110 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

costal margin. Sometimes the second fascia is distinctly interrupted near the costa, and frequently its dark margin is not produced. A/, ex. )± in.

makes a flat mine on the surface of Larva of the second group ; upper leaves of Hickories (Carya), and when complete the mine is drawn into a pucker along the middle. Common. Wisconsin,— Kentucky, Pennsylvania. 15. L. tri-tcenianella. AT sp.

: white-banded Face and palpi white tuft and thorax golden ; antennae with three white fasciae, above with fuscous ; anterior wings reddish saffron, the each narrowly dark-margined internally, the first before the middle, second about the middle, and the third about half-way between it and with trie apex, and slightly angulated posteriorly. Apex slightly dusted brown on a white ground. Al. ex. about ^ inch.

A single specimen, captured in April in Kentucky. Larva unknown. — 16. /,. guttifinitella. Clem., loc. at.

Dr. Clemens describes this species as follows: —"Front silvery, with a

brown ; reddish hue tuft and thorax reddish ; antennae blackish ; orange fore-wings rather deep reddish orange, with two silvery bands black- margined behind, one in the middle nearly straight, the other midway between this and the base of the wing obliquely placed. Before the costo-apical cilia is a costal silvery spot, black-margined on both sides, with an opposite dorsal spot black-margined behind. The apical portion " of the wing is dusted" (thickly so) with dispersed blackish scales" (on

a white ground), "with a white silvery spot near the tip^ibove the middle

1 of the of this or streak is variable it is wing.' (The position spot ; any- where near the apex.) "'There are two hinder-marginal lines, one, the margin of the dispersed scales, the other dark-brownish in the ciliae." The costal and dorsal white spots near the apex are sometimes straight and sometimes more or less oblique, and the dorsal one is frequently confluent with the apical spot. Usually there is no basal streak, but frequent!) the anterior margin of the thorax is pale, or even white, that color being produced back over the tegulae to the base of the wings, forming a small median basal streak which is occasionally dark-margined. The first fascia is sometimes distinctly interrupted near the costa, and the second fascia is sometimes dark-margined internally on the costa. Sometimes the costal spot (near the apex) is faint, or even entirely wanting, Sometimes the whole apical portion of the wing is dusted, and sometimes the dusting is THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Ill

confined to the dor.sal margin. The larva is of the second group, and is described in the table appended. It makes a llat tvhitish mine on the upper surface of the leaves of the Poison Ivy or Oak (Rhus toxicodendron). Sometimes there is only a single larva in a mine, and then the mine is either an irregular blotch or a narrow band, like the mark made by a drop of water running over a smooth surface. But usually there are several larvae in a mine— frequently six or seven and then the mine covers nearly the entire upper surface. The pupa lies in a small circular depression in the mine, in an oval flat white cocoon.

Variety L. ALsadisclla. Var. nor.

is the The imago not distinguishable from that of L. guttifinitella, but larva differs decidedly in its markings, as shown by the table annexed, and approaches more nearly the larva of variety Ostryarella of the next species (L. Coiylisella), (the larvae of which differ also, that of L. Cory- lisella resembling that of Guttifinitdld). I have never found more than one larva of this variety in a mine. The mine is a narrow band and blood- brown in color, thus differing from the above. The mines and larvae, therefore, differ, while the imagines are the same. These differences.

> not great, are constant. AI. ex. 4 inch. Kentucky, Pennsylvania.- Abundant. Mines upper surface of leaves of the Buckeye (JEscuhts glabia).

\i. L. CoryliscUa. N. sp.

The only difference between this species and L. guttifinitclla in the imago is, that this lias a straight dorsal white streak at the inner angle, internally dark-margined, and the apical dusting is much less dense and much paler, and, in some lights, scarcely visible. The mine is an irregularly circular blotch, brownish-yellow in colour, with a pale yellow border on the upper surface of the leaves of the Hazel (Cory/us Americana), thus differing from both of those above-named. The larva resembles that of guttifinitella rather than its variety, AlsculiseUa, but differs from both, as shown by the annexed table.

r Al ex. 4 inch. Wisconsin. Kentucky. Common.

Variety Ostryarella, mines the upper surface of the leaves of Ostrya Virginica. The mine and the imago are not distinguishable from those of L. CoryliscUa. But the larva differs from it, and bears the same relation to it that var. s£sci/lisella does to sp. guttifinitella. Kentucky. Common. 112 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

The following table shows the differences in the larvae above-mentioned

L. Corulisella. L. nvtti'tiititi In. L. tEsculiRetta.

Blueish, smoky, except Blueish, .smoky, except Whitish yellow, Same as jEscu- the head and anal seg- head, 1st, w-» lowing segments, which ish. are yellowish.

oft Translucent as Translucent Translucent Translucent spots spots, i segments, !. 2, '>. 6, 7 in Confliselia. spots indistinct, spots not visible. and 8.

Macu'a of seg. 1 indis- Till; CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I L3

all our Northern species in one respect to be mentioned, [f my observations arc correct, much the same may be said of the armor of Bnnius and which latter is as Southern Messrs. JPuvenaIist species separated by Scudder and Burgess, but seems to be identifiable as a variety found in Mass. and these two to somewhat in of Amherst, ; appear intergrade style markings. Mr. Lintner is expected to publish a full description of several of the species previously ascertained by him. Meantime, our Northern species may perhaps be characterised in a few words. Size. Ennius, Jirocnalis and one Horatius (?) are the largest, and all

' l about i inch. is to 1 1". ; . is t . _. Brizo next, \h Martial next, 4 Then

1 \\\.. i {;-, to t Persius and Luci/ius, Lastly, Icelus, .;.

Markings. Icelus alone is without white (transparent) dots : Brizo

none in the male, or obsolete ; Persius alone has the sub-apical dots in a straight line. Juvcnalis, Brizo and Persius incline to line pencilling on the the rest to blotchiness Icelus somewhat to Brizo primaries ; ; both. alone has the inside of the extra-discal band of spots forming an almost

continuous and nearly straight dark line on the primaries. ( )nly in Brizo

and Icelus the light spots on the secondaries tend to appear small, sharp and bright on the upper surface, at first glance. Horatius alone has the submarginal spots on the secondaries so far straightened as to lose the form of a broad \V. observable in the other species mentioned, and all the cloudings of both wings melt more into the ground color. Persius, when fresh, has the much darker than in the other and primaries species ; Martialis lias the cloudings much stronger.

In the above, I speak only of the upper surface of the males of

The females I northern species. have sorted with less confidence ; two specimens have the spots of the secondaries arranged as in the male Horatius.

Hints for Pal kino. In sending pupa: or eggs by mail it is best * to wrap them lightly in thin tissue paper and then pack the box with cotton wool. Do not put the latter, next to the pupa: or eggs, as it is very apt, by getting worked into the crevices, to be the means of somewhat injuring the specimens. We are indebted for this hint to Dr. G. M,

Levette, of Indianapolis, and our own experience fully confirms the wisdom of his suggestion. En. Can. Ext. 1.14 THE CANADIAN EKTOMOtOOlST.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

1 From Kirby s Fauna Borcall- Americana : Tnsecta.

(Continued from page 94.)

— of 2 lines. [90. J 125. Aleochara Pallitarsis, Kirby. Length body Locality unknown. The species of this genus of minute Brachclytra are so extremely numerous, nearly 200 having been discovered in Britain alone, and so difficult to discriminate, that it is not with great confidence that I give this as a nondescript. I have many undescribed species in my cabinet that come very near it, but I cannot find one that altogether agrees with it.

Body black, gloss deadened by short inconspicuous hairs. Head rather spherical, narrower than the prothorax, very minutely punctured ; antennae shorter than the prothorax, rather robust, intermediate joints turbinate, last joint ovate, acute : prothorax sub-orbicular with the sides and dorsal channel deflexed, very minutely thickly punctured ; nearly obsolete a the scutellum : ; large punctiform impression just above elytra longer and rather wider than the thorax, piceous-black, extreme tips rufous, very minutely and thickly punctured : legs piceous-black with rufous tarsi.

126. Tachyporus Acuductus, Kirby. — Length of bodv 1 line. Taken near Cumberland-house, lat. 54 . [91.] Body dark-piceous, naked, smooth, glossy. Antennae and mouth testaceous : prothorax very smooth, wider than the elytra, posterior angles testaceous : elytra longer than the head and prothorax together, piceous with the external testaceous if viewed under a apical angle ; good magnifyer, they appear covered, especially next the suture, with minute branching scratches, as if made by a pin or needle, intermixed with verv small punctures ; abdomen very short and conical, scarcely margined, with piceous the segments paler at their tip. 127. Tachyporus affixts Kirby. —Length of body, 1 line. Taken with the preceding species. This species is extremely similar to T. but acuductus, the posterior angles of the prothorax are not testaceous : the elytra are palish-chestnut and thickly covered with very minute punctures, without any scratches. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. il5 — 128. Philonthus politus Lin??. Length of body, 5 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall.

[92.] Body very black, hairy. Head orbicular, scarcely narrower than the prothorax, naked with the exception of a few long lateral bristle-like hairs, slightly bronzed, very glossy, smooth with a few punc- each side in the antennae shorter than the tures on occiput ; prothorax. last at the rather narrowest before and joint emarginate tip ; prothorax, transverse, rounded behind, slightly bronzed, very glossy and smooth, with a few long hairs on each side, on the disc is a double series, each con- are in sides sisting of four punctures, there three or four others the ; elytra bronzed, thickly punctured, with a long hair issuing from each claws of the tarsi LeConte's down puncture ; ferruginous. [In List, put as a male and synonymous with P. aeneus Rossi—a species taken in Canada.] 129. Philonthus mandibulars Kirby. —Length of body, 5 lines.

1 .ocality unknown. in the of [93.] This species differs from the preceding chiefly shape the head, and the color of the mandibles, agreeing in the former particular with P. politus of modern Entomologists, from which it differs, besides their in the mandibles shorter than the head the inter- colour, having ; mediate joints of the tarsi also are rufo-piceous. [Inserted in LeConte's List as the female of the preceding species.]— 130. Philonthus picatus Kirby. Length of body 3 lines. Two specimens taken^ in Lat. 54°. Body piceous, as usual in the genus somewhat hairy. Head ovate, side naked, and very glossy, with a few scattered punctures on each four between them antennae as as the head behind the eyes and ; long testaceous naked and dorsal and thorax, scape ; prothorax very glossy ; rows consisting of six punctures, there are five more punctures near the anterior margin arranged in two oblique rows between them and the lateral margin, and three or four other punctures are discoverable nearer the : of the abdominal and anus base elytra chestnut, hairy ; tips segment rufous : legs testaceous. [Previously described as Staphylitius (Philon- thus) brunneus Grav. Taken en the north shore of Lake Superior by Agassiz's Expedition.]

131. Philonthus Eulvipes? Grav. — Length of body about 3 line>. A single specimen taken in lat. 54°. 116 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Body black, hairy, except the head and prothorax which are naked, and very glossy. Head sculptured like that of P. picatus ; antennae with the two first joints testaceous : prothorax sculptured with regard to the dorsal series as in that species, then follow about five punctures in an irregular wavy series extending from near the base towards the apex, between which and the anterior angle arc two placed obliquely, and several besides are discoverable in the lateral and posterior margins: [94) the scutellum is black : the elytra punctured, testaceous, and hairy : the abdomen is entirely black : the legs are testaceous with the posterior coxae black : the hands are not dilated. [Taken at Grimsby, Ont, by Mr. Pettit.]

of lines. 132. STAPHYLINUS CHRYSURUS, Kirby. Length body 5 */> Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch.

Body underneath black, somewhat glossy, sprinkled with yellow hairs. Head suborbicular, scarcely wider than the prothorax, confluently punctured, bronzed, and covered not thickly with short pale-yellow hairs, which

it a cinereous tint, with several indistinct blackish rhinarium give spots ; and mandibles rufous at the base stalk of the upper-lip pale yellow ; ; antennae testaceous, the six last joints are brown and larger than the rest, so as to form a clava : prothorax sculptured, cloathed, and coloured like the head, but more distinctly spotted and clouded with black, widest behind with a slight lateral sinus near the base : scutellum almost covered

by a heart-shaped velvetty black spot : elytra, as to sculpture, cloathing, and general colour, resembling the head and prothorax, but they are

differently spotted with black : in the centre of the base is an oblique

oblong spot, then follows an angular interrupted band, and lastly, is a sickle-shaped band with the handle towards the lateral margin, the blade is an insulated cinereous neither of these very broad and includes spot ;

bands reach the suture or the lateral margin, which is tawny-yellow : the two last segments of the abdomen, especially the penultimate, are thick!} covered with short decumbent hairs, which in certain lights reflect a

if brilliant golden lustre : the after-breast is covered with hairs possible

still brilliant are but the their more ; the legs testaceous, thighs except

tip, and a dorsal line, are black.

This species resembles St. hybridus and maculosus, but is sufficiently

distinguished by its golden tail and breast : it is one of the smallest of the genus. [Previously described as Leistotrophus cingulalns Grav. Not uncommon throughout Ontario.] THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 1 7

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Annual Meeting.—In accordance with the Act of Incorporation, the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario will be held at Kingston, Ont., on Wednesday evening, Sept. 27th, 187 1, when the annual Report will be read, with the— Treasurers statement, and officers for the J will be elected. Ed. Can. Ent. ensuinge> :year

Ekiexdly Notes. — 1 see you have published a little scrap in No. 3 Can. Ent., "'by C. V. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, St. Louis." 1 had to laugh at the mountain you have made of the mole heap, and, in future, if you care to use any of my scribblings in print, I must insist that you follow copy, and omit the "handles." 1 have no particular fondness for the latter, and they seem to be especi; lly out of place at the head of trifling communications. While spending a few hours with Air. Scudder, recently, 1 found, upon comparing notes, that he had not observed the difference in length in the larval horns of Disippus and Ursula, and that, if anything, his descriptions made those of the former longer than those of the latter—or the exact converse of what I described in the article above referred to. I mention this fact that you may note it in your future observations, and perhaps it would be weil to call attention to it in the Can. Ent., that others may also give us their experience. Mr. Scudder had, however, remarked the differences in the pupal humps; but. in describing, he speaks of the '• *' posterior and anterior sides" of this hump instead of upper and lower edges"—thereby imagining the pupa in a detached and horizontal, instead of the suspended vertical position as I have done. Mr. Scudder has noticed some other differences in the two pupae, and 1 draw your attention to these differences, in order that you may make further comparisons, lie finds that, while in Ursula the shoulder (basal wing tubercle) is rounded off and partially suppressed, in Disippus it is produced into a minute conical point, directed outwards (and in Arihauis [one specim< n only observed] less pointed and directed backwards). In Disippus he finds " the dorsal portion of the anal button," within the marginal ridge, to be longer than wide, while it is more nearly square in Ursula. lie also thinks the latter is a little stouter and more constricted at the mesothorax, viewed dorsallv. From an examination of several empty pupa shells of both species, I doubt whether any of these characters, taken singly, are of as much value as those 1 have given, but they will all help us to separate 118 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the two species in their preparatory stages. Characters of single specimens are of little value, and true distinction can only be arrived at by the examination of many individuals. Thus, I possess one Ursula pupa, so conspicuously marked with black spots and streaks on the edges of the dorsal hump, of the wing and leg sheaths, of the shoulder, and of the ear-like prominences of the head, that, taken singly, these would form striking characters : but in others, again, these marks are either illy defined, or entirely obsolete.

1 am really rejoiced to see your little work prospering so well and improving so much. I am glad to see that Mr. V. T. Chambers is taking the Micros. It is a vast and most field and I Mr. C. up interesting , hope will prove a second Clemens to us, for we are sadly in need of one ! There is something rather incoherent in Mr. Wm. Coupers articles, and

he has committed some serious errors. Firstly, if he wishes to instruct " in Entomology, he must not talk of the family of Hymenoptera" (p. 35, 1. 24). Secondly, he ought to know that curculionidous larvae do not silken cocoons and to the third Missouri spin ; by referring Entomological Report, he will find that we do know something of the habits of quite a number of our snout-beetles. The larva in acorns which he describes on

page 65 is, as I am quite convinced from his text, no Curculionid at all, but an inquilinous moth-larva, in which he has rather carelessly overlooked

the legs. It produces a little ash-gray moth, characterized chiefly by having on the front wings two distinct discal spots on an usually silvery

gray ground, and a transverse pale stripe across the basal third of the wing, well relieved posteriorly by a dark median shade. It varies much in size and conspicuity of markings, but the average expanse is about ^ths of an inch. The moths issue all along from the end of April till Sept. The larva is found in all kinds of acorns, especially in those that have been injured or infested by the acorn weevil (Balanimts rectus, Say), and the small is in circular observed [it generally 0.05 inch diameter] hole, by Mr. Couper, and supposed by him to be made by the parent for the of its is die the larva deposition egg (!), but hole by which Balaninus escaped to go into the ground, and which the inquilinous moth-larva covers up with silk after it comes to occupy the acorn. I took specimens of this moth to Europe with me, but could not find that it was described, it apparently belongs to the genus Geieckia, and I propose for it the name of G. glandulella. I have found its larva (in company with those of a T1U' < ACADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I t9

which Cecidomyia and of another Tineian) in acorns of Quercus ilidfolia were still on the tree, and which were infested with a little pip-like gall, between the acorn and the cup.* To one who has watched with interest, the writings of Messrs.

Scudder, Lintner, and Edwards on Grapta inter rogationis, Fabr., the article by the latter gentleman on page 70, is extremely gratifying. From the fact, that in Europe, Grapta C-attmm shows three very distinct variations, and from my own breeding experience with intcrrogationis, I felt convinced that the black-winged and red-winged forms were but varieties of the one species, and so informed Mr. Lintner, over a year ago. I am glad Mr. Edwards has anticipated me in demonstrating it in Such facts to to the of insects for print. ought give impetus rearing ; though the artificial method of making species out of every little individual in variation may be very amusing to those who choose to indulge it, yet such work will never give us a natural system, and much of it will have to be undone by subsequent investigators who acquaint themselves with the Adolescent as well as the perfect forms of a species. G. V. Riley;

St. Louis. Sept., 10th, 1871.

How to Preserve Ephemerid/e. — In drying, the color and form of Ephemerida: soon change. Color is of little importance, even in fresh

but form is to the of the examples ; necessary distinguishing species.

They are, therefore, best preserved in a liquid. It is sufficient for ordinary

purposes to dip the fresh killed specimen into diluted spirits, and then transfer it to a tube, or homoeopathic globule bottle, partly filled with water. Next, Price's glycerine is added to the water—one or two drops a day—until the bottle is gradually rilled. A small drop of acetic acid may be added finally, to prevent the growth of mould. The name of the species may be written on the disk of the cork, the date and locality of capture round its side. Hind wings of the species of Baetis and Centrop-

tilum should be mounted on slips of grass, for microscopical examination. Pinned specimens are often difficult to determine, in consequence of their shrinking: to card them is to render them fit for nothing.—Eaton's Ephemeiida',

* This little gall is undescribed. In company with Mr. H. F. Bassett, of Water- bury, Ct., I found it so abundant last month, that the acorns were very generallv destroyed. Strange as it may appear, from observations made by Mr. Bassett, this gall will, in all probability,— prove to be but the summer form of the wooly gall known as quercus operator so little do we know yet of some of Nature's secrets ! 120 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

* Kingston, Ont

The undersigned would be pleased to correspond with Lepidopter- ologists (Southern and Western U. S. preferred), with a view to exchanges. Address Edw. L. Graef, 40 Court St., Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S.

Lepidoptera, occ. — I have a collection of Birds' Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which 1 should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. — Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass.

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. — Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler. 68, Pearl-street. Boston, Mass. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins.- -We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of Ivlaeger's pins, Nos. 1.2.5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a (cw copies left of these volumes—Xo. 1 of vol. t being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each. List of Canadian ColeoptEra.- Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families. 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, t to 2000. for labelling cabinets. Price to cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont; W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal. Institute. PQ-; G. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.; J. Johnston, Canadian Toronto, Ont. United States.—The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.:

1. Y. Green, Newport. Vt. : W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadwav. New York. C|t (Miabian

III. VOL. LONDON, ONT., OCTOBER, 1S71. No. 7.

ANNUAL ADDRESS

OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO, [871.

To the Members of the Entomological Society of Ontario:

Gentlemen'—-It is with no ordinary feelings of pleasure and satisfaction that I offer you my congratulations upon the continued success and prosperity of the Entomological Society of Ontario. We are now met together to hold our first Annual Meeting under our Act of Incorpora- tion, and as a public Society duly recognized by the Government of the Province, and closely associated with the Agricultural and Arts .Association of Ontario, who are now holding their great Annual Exhi- bition in this city of Kingston. As Ave have now attained to a position so much superior to anything we anticipated a few years ago, it may not be amiss to give a brief account of the origin and progress of the Society, and of the work it has been able to accomplish. The origination of the Society may be traced to the publication in the number of the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist for June, 1862, '" of a List of Entomologists in Canada," prepared by Mr. Saunders of London, Ont., and myself. As this List contained the names of thirty-six persons interested in the collection and study of Insects, it was resolved to hold a meeting and endeavour to form a Society or Club of those engaged in this branch of Natural Science. In the following September, accordingly, ten gentlemen assembled at the residence of Prof. Croft in Toronto, and decided upon the formation of an Entomological Society

whose objects should be (1) the preparation of as complete a collection as possible of Canadian Insects, to be kept in some central place for information and reference the of a of general ; (2) charge depository duplicate specimens contributed by Entomologists for distribution its the of from time to amongst members ; and (3) holding meetings time for mutual information and the advancement of the science through-

out the country at large. As so few were present at this meeting, no definite organization was attempted at the time, but the matter was laid over until the following spring. 122 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

On the 1 6th of April in the following year (1863), the Society was at length duly organized under the Presidency of Prof. Croft, and with Mr. W. Saunders as Secretary-Treasurer, and the late Rev. Prof. Hubbert as Curator. The names of about twenty-five persons were enrolled as original members. During the year, meetings were held from time to time, and several more names were added to the list of members. The next year (1864) was one of great progress, being signalized by the formation, in March, of a Branch, with ten original members, at East and of another in at Quebec, Canada ; July, London, Canada West, with thirteen original members. A preliminary list of Canadian Lepidoptera, embracing 144 species of Butterflies, Bombyces and Sphinges, was published by the Society during the year. In 1865 many additions to the roll of membership were made, and much good work was done, including the publication of a second list of Canadian Lepidoptera, containing the names of 350 more species. During the following year

(1866) the Society held but few meetings and effected little, owing to the disturbance caused by the Fenian Raid, and the call made upon many members to leave their homes and join the ranks of the Volunteer service. The year 1867 was marked in the annals of the Society, by the publication of a valuable list of Canadian Coleoptera, which included no less than 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species, being many times more than had ever been previously enumerated in a Canadian List. In August 1868, the Society issued the first number of the Canadian Entomologist, a small monthly periodical devoted to the publication of original papers on the classification, description, habits and general history of Insects. This little serial has been received with much favour by the leading Entomologists of America, many of whom have from time to time contributed to its pages. It has now reached the middle of its third and has increased to three times its it has volume, original dimensions ; also improved much in style and typographical appearance, as well as in the excellence of its illustrations.

Until December 1869, the Society received no extraneous assistance nor public recognition, but depended wholly for its maintenance upon the efforts of its members. At that time, however, it was voted a grant of $400 for the year 1870 by the Board of the Agricultural and Arts Association of Ontario, on condition that it furnished an Annual Report, formed a cabinet of insects useful and prejudicial to agriculture and horticulture, and continued the publication of the Canadian Entomo- logist. These conditions were severally complied with by the con-- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 123

tinuance and improvement of our periodical, the formation of a cabinet of insects arranged in an economical point of view, and placed in the rooms of the Association at Toronto, and by the publication of a Report upon the Insects affecting the Apple, Grape, and Plum, prepared by Messrs. Saunders and Reed and myself. The singular favour accorded by the public to this Report, and the fact that an edition of three thousand copies was speedily exhausted, sufficiently attest its value.

The present year (187 1) has been signalized by the Incorporation of the Society by the Legislature of Ontario, at the instigation of the Bureau of Agriculture, and the grant to its funds by the Government of $500 a year. By the same Act, moreover, your President is entitled to take arts. his seat as an ex officio member of the Board of Agriculture and Among the ranks of progress of the year, mention must by no means be omitted of the formation of a third Branch of the Society at Kingston, which we trust will long continue to grow and prosper. Such, gentlemen, is a brief account of the origin and progress of our Society, the recital of which has not, I trust, proved uninteresting to you. When we look back upon our growth and development, we must all, I am sure, feel cheered and encouraged to continue our work and strive by our united efforts to make the Entomological Society of Ontario a credit and a blessing to our land. Before concluding, I feel that it is my painful duty to remind you of the loss which our Society and the cause of Natural Science generally in this Province has sustained in the recent death of Prof. Hincks, of University College, Toronto. He joined us in our first attempts at organization, and continued our steady friend and supporter till a few months ago. Though his special studies were chiefly devoted to another department of Nature, he yet took a lively interest in Entomology, and was a frequent attendant at our meetings. He died at a ripe old age, and has left a mark upon the scientific records of our country which will not soon be effaced.

Thanking you, gentlemen, for the honour you have done me in calling upon me to preside over you during the past year, and trusting that our Society will continue to grow and prosper, and be zealously maintained by us all,

I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your obedient servant,

Charles J. Bethune. Kingston, Sept. 27, 187 1. 24 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

DESCRIPTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM ALABAMA.

(Continued from Page 105.)

i:Y AUG. K. GROTE.

Specimens of the species alluded to in the present paper and types of the species described, are deposited in the Museum of the Peabody Academy of Science, Salem. Mass.

Pygarctia abdomixali s Grote. °_ This genus, allied to Ctenucha, is structurally characterized by the very small labial palpi, which are not but concealed beneath the head the dark scales which the porrected ; tip small terminal joints are projected straightly forward but do not exceed the front. The antennae are somewhat long and stout, shortly bipectinate. The legs are comparatively short, stout, feebly armed and closely scaled. The are and scaled the body parts moderately heavy, smoothly closely ; abdomen is linear, terminates bluntly, and resembles that part in Euchaetes. It is not tufted at the anus. The moth is laden with Arctian analogies. The hind wings, of which alone the neuration has been examined, are 7-veined:

veins 3, 4, 5, {H.S.) spring from one point, vein 2 is thrown off from the median nervure at about its middle, widely separate from the rest. The costal nervure is furcate at the outer third and throws off both nervules

(veins 6 and 7, H.S.) on to the external margin. The internal nervure

(vein 1, H.S.) is without accessory veins. a The wings are lead color ; in certain lights the primaries show bluish reflection as in Ctenucha. 'Hie costal region of the forewings above and below is striped with dark yellow as is the internal margin. The hind wings are concolorous immaculate. Abdomen above orange, with a dorsal series of distinct segmentary black spots as in Spilosoma, and other genera

of Arctince is lateral beneath it is ; there also a series of black points ; lead color. Palpi, throat and head behind and between the antennae front dark as are the dark lead color bright orange; palpal tips. Legs ; fore coxae orange. Collar tegulae and thoracic disc lead color with a light reflection, and more or less obviously margined with orange scales and shades. Exp. 44 m. m. 5 ignot. this PARORGYIA i.kucuph.ka Smith sp. £ °. Specimens of species have been collected by Air. Ridings in Georgia, and Prof. Townend

Glover has figured the female. Loth the J specimens I have seen have the primaries suffused with blackish. I have received specimens collected by a friend within a few miles of Demopolis. It closely resembles P. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 125

lias paler, and the course of the inner transverse line is different. Hubner figured the Northern species in illustration of P. leucophcea. Smith's remains to discovered Dr. Packard's identification of it in the achatina be ; " Synopsis'" being erroneous and not improbably founded on Parorgyia and tephra Hubner sp. This latter, together with P. plagiata Walk, sp.,

Parorgyia clandestina Walk, sp., as well as Parorgyia rossii Curtis sp., remain to be confirmed as distinct species.

Botys argyralis Hubner sp. The peculiar dark ventral stripe had not been noticed at the time that Botys ventralis G. R. was described synonymously. There is a considerable variation in the color of this species. I have taken here a specimen in which, the primaries above and thorax are of a deep ochrey yellow. The exterior white dotted line is also

variable in appearance ; being at times partially obsolete. The abdominal stripe beneath varies in color with the fore wings and thorax.

Botvs ecdesialis (Samea ecd. Guenee). I have taken a specimen of the form of this species described by Guenee from the United States. It has a distinct dot on the secondaries above at base. The specimens in the British

.Museum registered under the names of Samea elealis, Samea liparalis and Botys tsedialis, appeared to me identical with our Northern Botys adipaloides. However, Lederer seems to have had the two latter before him from Brazil. I may then have mistaken closely allied species as identical. Undoubtedly some species of our U. S. Pyralidae may be found in Brazil, but there appears to exist closely allied and what is termed representative species in the two countries. However, I can find no difference between

our U. S. Cindaphia bicoloralis Guenee sp., and the figure and description of the Brazilian C. incensalis, Lederer. It will be better then to retain the name adipaloides for our species until its identity with any of the three

mentioned above is more clearly established. I do not find the dispro- portional spurs on the hind legs of my specimens of Samea ecdesialis ; it would appear then to belong to Botys.

Pilocrosis ram i:_\ talis Lederer... £ Antennas with a tuft above the thickened basal joints, somewhat bent or crooked towards the middle, otherwise simple and in all my specimens rigidly elevated, curling over

towards the tips. Primaries with a large hair-tuft at base extending along the costa to just beyond the first transverse line and drooping downwardly to internal margin. Hind legs with two pair of unequal spurs. Ornamen- tation of Botys. Above wings and body parts are concolorous obscure smoky brown, the former with a slight iridescent reflection. Two obscure 126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

C/intonii, from the middle and Eastern States. The female is, however, white lines on a concolorous luniform discal streak yellowish primaries and ; the outer line very sinuate, and with the discal streak margined darkly inwardly. A single line, corresponding to the outer line of the primaries, crosses the secondaries above, and these show a dark discal streak near the paler costal region. Abdominal segments above very finely lined with scales whitish the terminal pale posteriorly. Beneath ; palpal joints dark. 28 m. for of its Exp. m. The abdomen extends ]/^ length beyond the secondaries. I think I have also the female of this if so it species ; does not differ from the male in its interesting antennary and alar characters. Lederer had only a defective specimen before him, the habitat of which was unknown. The present discovery of this singular genus in Alabama has, then, enabled me to supplement Lederer's description in one or two particulars.

Desmia subdivisalis Gro/e. $ Antennae simple. Lustrous black. Primaries with two ovate white spots above situate as in D. maculalis, but a little rounder in shape. The very black external transverse line, in its usual sinuate course, may be seen outside these spots edging the upper and outer spot entirely externally, the lower spot but partially. On the secondaries the usual white median band is medially constricted and separated by black scales, so that two ovate transverse and overlapping white spots are formed. Fringes dark, very faintly tipped with white. Abdomen with the usual sub-basal white band and above anal spot ; segment entirely black. Beneath, the white spots of the wings are iridescent, and the division of the band on the secondaries is incomplete. Exps. 19 m. m. One third smaller than D. maculalis ; the wings are relatively broader while similarly shaped ; the fringes are less distinctly touched with white and appear shorter. I regret not to have found the male.

The above may be added to the list of Pyralidse I have taken in my 7 as well as /is, G. locality , Asopia farina Botys maradeata r., and Botys ftavidalis Guenee.

— Erratum. In the last communication of our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Aug. R. Grote, we regret the appearance of a rather remarkable typograpical error, which escaped the eyes of both printer and proof-reader, on page 105, third line from top. For "bread," read " head.'—Ed. C. E. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 127

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KY.

Continued from Pa*e 112.

LITHOCOLLETIS.

1 — 8. L. desmodiella Clem., loc. cit., p. 320.

This is the smallest known American species of the genus, if not the of all It smallest known species of it, measuring scarcely }i in. alar. ex. is very pretty—to the naked eye sparkling like microscopic gems of different colours, or like diamonds set in rubies. The pattern of coloration

resembles that of corylisella, but still more that of Leacanthiza ornaiella, which it resembles closely, except that it is much smaller and lacks the iridescence and changeable colours of that insect. Larva of the first group. —Mines the under surface of leaves of different species of Desmodium. I have met with it only in August and September and rarely then. Pennsvlvania and Kentuckv. * * With a basal streak.

t With fasciae.

19. —L. ambrosiaella. N. sp. Face, palpi, undersurface, and legs (except a reddish-orange patch on

the outside of the posterior tibiae) deep steel-blue metallic. Antennae dark brown, annulate with white. Tuft reddish-orange with white scales on each side. Thorax and anterior wings reddish-orange, with a snow-white streak crossing the anterior margin of the thorax, passing back over the tegulae and continuous with a short median basal white streak on the wings and which is faintly dark margined behind. A wide snow-white costal streak about the basal dark behind a snow-white ^th margined ; fascia about the middle of the wing dark margined distinctly behind and faintly so before. A costal white streak and an opposite dorsal one at the base of the ciliae, both dark margined behind and faintly so before. A white fascia just before the apex becoming indistinct near the dorsal margin and faintly dark margined behind. Ciliae of the general hue. A/, ex. y± in., Kentucky; common. with Larva cylindrical, yellowish, with the head streaked and suffused fuscus. It makes a very small tent mine on the under side of the leaves 1 similar of the" "great hog weed' (Ambrosia trifida). There is a very mine on the under surface of the leaves of HeliantJius giganteq, but I have 1:28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

not bred the moth from it. It is very different from another Helianthus mine yet to be described. The cocoon is fusiform, suspended in the mine by a thread from each end. So is the cocoon of the large Helianthus mine, and the larva only differs from this by wanting the fuscus marks about the head. But the mine is very different and resembles on the upper side a tubercular swelling of the leaf. I have not yet bred the moth from either Helianthus mine. I once found a large mine differing from all of these, but with the same "kind of cocoon on the under surface of a weed (—Eupatorium 1) at Macon, Georgia. 20. L. celtifoliella. N. sp. Face and palpi silvery white, the palpi on their outer surfaces saffron. necked with brown. Antennae brown, annulate with white and flecked with blackish scales. Tuft reddish-saffron with white scales intermixed.

Thorax reddish-saffron anteriorly, passing into brown towards the apex, sparsely flecked with white, and with the usual white line (sometimes absent) across the anterior margin produced backwards over the teguke and on to the wings, where it is confluent with a narrow median white basal streak which is strongly dark margined dorsallv, the dark margin being produced beyond it nearly to the middle of the wing. Anterior wings reddish-saffron, the dorsal margin nearly to the ciliae thickly dusted with dark brown on a white ground, and with a streak of dark brown extending to the basal streak not far from the base. Three fasciae, rather of dark brown a white all indefinitely bounded, upon ground ; strongly angulated posteriorly about the middle, the third one slightly interrupted near the costa and passing gradually into a costo-apical patch of dark brown on a white first is the middle the ground. The fascia just before ; second is about the middle and each sends a white streak from its angle nearly to the next fascia. There is a dorso-apical patch of dense dark brown dusting on a white ground, larger than the costo-apical one above mentioned. Cilias pale reddish-saffron with a dark brown hinder marginal line in the ciliae. (Sometimes almost the entire thorax and dorsal margins of the wings are densely dusted with dark brown on a white ground, whilst the first and second fasciae blend with each other near the dorsal margin, and the third fasciae blends with the dorso-apical dusting. It varies in the extent and intensity of the dusting). Under surface silvery white with a patch of dark brown dusting on each side of each abdominal segment. Legs silvery white with the anterior tibiae and tarsi reddish-saffron dusted thickly with dark brown, and the intermediate and posterior tibiae and tarsi spotted and annulate with dark brown. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 129

Alar. ex. inch. Not common. }/{. Kentucky.

The larva is cylindrical, yellowish, and makes a tent mine on the under surface of the leaves of the Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis.) — 21. Z. celtisella. N. sp.

Face, palpi, and under surface silvery white, the under surface and legs with antennae annulate above with dark brown. tinged yellowish ; silvery, Tuft, thorax, and anterior wings saffron-yelloAV, with a white patch in the centre of the tuft and the usual white line across the anterior margin and sides of the thorax, which, however, as in other species, is sometimes wanting. When present it is confluent with the rather long narrow median basal white streak which is faintly dark-margined towards the dorsal margin. Just before the middle is a white fascia angulated near the costa and produced backwards at the angle, and strongly dark-margined internally. Near the base of the cilia? is another straight white fascia not definitely bounded, anteriorly margined with dark brown and with many dark brown scales interspersed in the white, and sometimes divided into two or three it a rather indefinite spots. The apex of the thorax is white, and from narrow white line passes along the posterior margin of the wing to the first fascia, and sometimes is faintly indicated to the base of the ciliae and is margined with dark brown. Apex dusted with dark brown on a white ground, the dusting margined by an oblique white line internally. Some- times the dusting is not thick, and the whole apical half of the wings is sparsely flecked with dark brown scales. The markings of the apical half of the wing are all indefinite, the colors not being separated by distinct well-marked lines, but to some extent running into each other. Al. ex. less than ^ in. Kentucky. Very abundant. There is some variation

in the intensity of the color : some species being much paler than others, and one specimen in my possession has the thorax entirely white.

The larva mines the under surface of the leaves of the Hackberry

(Celtis occidentalis). The mine begins near the midrib and the first portion of it is only discernible under a lens. It is only by observing this the larva part of it that it is possible to tell on which side of the leaf on enters, as the remainder of the mine presents the same appearance both sides of the leaf. It is a short narrow crooked line ending in a the small ovoid dead-looking blotch which is slightly puckered along centre on both surfaces. Like all other species it leaves the mine upon

the same side on which it entered. 130 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

22. —L. aceriella. Clem., toe. cit., supra, p. 323. This is a very variable species both in the larva and imago. Fre- quently the anterior margin and sides of the thorax are white. Sometimes the basal streak is very short, at other times extending nearly ^ the of the Dr. Clemens there are two fasciae but in none length wing. says ; of my specimens does the first one quite attain the costal margin, and usually it is only a short dorsal streak extending to, and confluent with, the basal streak and sometimes the entire the dorsal ; nearly portion of margin included between it and the basal streak is white. Frequently also the second fascia does not quite attain the costal margin, and when it does, it is sometimes interrupted near the costa. Many of these specimens I should have considered as distinct species if I had not bred them from identical mines on the upper side of the leaves of Sugar Maples (Acer Saccharinum). So in a collection of several leaves scarcely any two larvae will be found alike, the general shade of colour and the distinctness of the maculae and translucent spots varying with each moult, and finally, when just ready to become puppe, no traces of either maculae or translucent spots are visible. Alar. ex. }£ inch. Common in Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

Errata.—Ante p. 84, line 5 from bottom, for thinner, read thence ; pp. in & 112, for Ostryarella, read Ostryo?ella ; for Corylzsella, read Cor xHella.

NOTES ON THE LARVA OF

PRIOCYCLA ARMATARIA Herr. Sch.

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ON J.

Specimens of a nearly black geometric larva which afterwards proved to belong to this species, were taken last year on the 15th of July on currant and gooseberry bushes, on which they were feeding. They fed on the foliage of the black currant as well as of the red, and in fact seemed to prefer it.

When first taken they answered to the following description : Length -45 in. Body tapering a little anteriorly, thicker on middle and hind segments. Head small, bilobed, brownish black spotted with white, a streak of white in the upper part of each lobe, a patch of the same color across the middle, produced to a point in the centre, a smaller patch of the same just THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 131

above mandibles, and besides these several small scattered whitish dots. Mandibles tipped with brown, palpi pale whitish. Body above dark brown nearly black, dotted and streaked with bright pale yellow. On each segment from fourth to terminal, is a whitish dorsal crescent composed of whitish dots and streaks, most striking on 5th, 6th, and 7th segments, on the others, pale and less distinct. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th segments are enlarged at the sides and projecting, while the spaces out between segments are unaltered ; the 6th and 7th segments bulge more than the others. On the sides of 8th, 9th, and 10th segments is a patch of bright yellow. There is also a subdorsal row of raised dots, those on the anterior and middle segments dark brown, while those on the posterior segments are tipped with yellow. The terminal segment has a a fleshy hump or prominence composed of two round tubercles with patch of yellow on the outside of each. A few short brownish hairs are scattered over the surface of the body. The under surface is blackish brown, feet and prolegs of a similar hue, the anterior pair of prolegs has a stripe of yellow on the outside.

Before maturing, this larva attained a length of 3/Jths of an inch or more, but retained the same markings excepting on the head, which became pale brown, dotted with black. The larva entered the chrysalis state early in the fail. It constructed a slight web composed of silk interwoven with portions of leaf and frass, and stretched across a corner of the wooden box in which it was confined, and within this the change was effected. One specimen produced the imago on the* 1st of June following; the other on the 8th of the same month.

The accompanying figure (30) represents the moth, which is a little be-

FIG - 30 - low the average size. The color of its wings is yellowish brown shaded with purplish, especi- the hind the streaks and dots ally on wings ; are of a deeper shade of brown. The under surface is of a deep yellow dotted with reddish brown and with a line of the same color cross-

ing the wings a little beyond the middle. Behind this line on the posterior wings the color becomes pale purplish brown. While this insect may be ranked among those that are injurious to the fruit grower, inasmuch as it is destructive to the gooseberry and currant, still it is comparatively rare, and has not, thus far, at any time presented itself in such numbers as to attract the attention of those interested in this

department of industry. 132 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at Queen's College, Kingston, Ont., on Wednesday evening, September 27, 187 1.

The President, Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, being unavoidably detained. the Vice-President, Mr. W. Saunders, of London. Ont., took the chair.

The Secretary-Treasurer then read the following Financial Statement for the year ending September 23, 187 1.

RECEIPTS.

By Balance from 1870 $34 97 " Members' Fees—Arrears Members $12 00 " " '• Branches 10 00

187 1 Members 75 00 " Branches 15 00 112 00 " Sale of Cork 10 69 " Pins ! 44 83 " Grant from Bureau of Agriculture 500 00 ' k List and Labels 045 " Sale of Back Nos. of Can. Ent 1607 " • ' Donation 1 .00 " Various small accounts 10 30 " Exchange of Am. and Eng. Cy 459 EXPENDITURE.

To Expense acct $77 92 " Engraving 27 25 " Canadian Entomologist, Printing Nos. 10, 11. 12. Vol. II.. and Nos. 1 — 6, Vol. III. 330 91 " Bins 11 80 " Library account 41 95 " Balance in Bank of Montreal 233 73 " Various small accounts 11 34

$734 9° $734 9°

^ e certify that the above is a correct statement of accounts for the QQ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 Si

shewn the Treasurer's Hooks with year ending Sept. 23, 1871, as by vouchers for all disbursements.

. John H. Griffiths. I ,-, > Auditors.

(.has. Chapman. ) London, Sept. 23, 1871.

The 'Treasurer stated that the balance now in hand would be entirely six of the Can. spent this year in completing the remaining Nos. Ent., which the Editor purposed to do before Christmas.

After December it is intended that the numbers should be issued monthly, but at present it is necessary to issue double numbers in order to complete the current volume during the year. of The Secretary also stated that in accordance with their statute incorporation, an annual report of insects injurious to the farm and garden would be furnished to the Commissioner of Agriculture, and that a printed copy thereof would be forwarded to each member of the Society. The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year :- School. President.— Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, M. A., Trinity College Port Hope. Vice-President. VV. Saunders, Esq., London, Out. Sec-Treas.—E. B. Reed, Esq.. — Prof. Belleville R. V. Council. Prof. Croft, Toronto ; J. Macoun, ;

Rogers, Esq., Kingston; J. M. Denton, Esq., London; J. Pettit, Esq., Grimsby. Auditors.- -John H. Griffiths, London; Chas. Chapman, London. The President's Annual Address will be found on another page.

Prof. Dupuis, of Kingston, laid some information before the meeting with regard to Lithographs for the Can. Ent. Several members of the Kingston Branch expressed their pleasure at the meeting being held in it is that their city, and from the spirit evinced by their remarks evident Entomology will not be allowed to languish, but that some good work may be expected from the ''Limestone City." Before adjourning, the Secretary took occasion to reciprocate the kindly sentiments that the President of the Fruit Growers' Association had so courteously expressed in his Annual Address the night previous with regard to the Entomological Society of Ontario. It is sincerely to be hoped that the two sister Societies may long continue to work together in such harmony, and that the results of their respective labours

rrjay be felt and appreciated by the country at large. 134 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirby s Fauna Boreali-Americana : Insecta.

(Continued from page 116.)

1 — [95-] 33- Creophilus villosus Grav. Length of body, 7 lines. Taken in Lat. 54 in Canada, also by Dr. Bigsby, and in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. I have specimens likewise, taken in Britain. [Quite common throughout Ontario.] This species is extremely similar to C. maxillosus, and its American representative. The following circumstances principally distinguish them. The anterior angles of the prothorax in C. maxittosus are thinly cloathed with shortish black hairs : in C. villosus, these hairs are cinereous, longer, more numerous, and cover a of the in the larger portion angle ; former, the band of the elytra is whiter and wider than in the latter : in the former also the back of the abdomen, especially the third and fourth is mottled with cinereous hairs in the latter the second and segments, ; third have each a cinereous band interrupted in the middle : again the four first ventral segments in C. maxiUosus are thickly covered with decumbent cinereous hairs, with each a lateral black spot on both sides, while in C. villosus the three first are so and in only segments distinguished ; finally, the former the sides of the postpectus are covered with black hairs, and in the latter with cinereous.

[family silphid.e.] -— [96.] 134. Necrophorus velutinus Fabr. Length of body, 8 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch. [Common in Ontario.] black nose Body ; separated posteriorly from the front by a straight line, anteriorly furnished with a submembranous rhinarium, above which is a round flattened tubercle knob of the antenna? black : dilated ; prothorax anteriorly, thickly covered with golden pile : elytra with two orange- coloured bands, toothed as it were on both sides, the anterior being the widest : covered with : ; epipleura pale yellow postpectus golden pile posterior trochanters truncated at the apex and emarginate.

135. Necrophorus hebes Kirby. —Length of body, 7 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall.

[97.] Like the last, but the nose is separated from the front by # a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. L35

curved line, it is also marked on each side by a deep longitudinal furrow, and is depressed longitudinally in the centre ; but what more strongly characterizes it, is the want of the rhinarium or nostril-piece discoverable is less in most of the other species : the anterior part of the prothorax conspicuously dilated and naked : the elytra anteriorly have a strongly at the toothed orange band including a black dot suture ; posteriorly they is in have a large toothed spot of the same colour ; the epipleura orange the middle, black at the tip with a black spot at the base connected with the black disk : postpectus not brilliant with golden pile. [Unknown to Dr. LeConte.] — 136. Necrophorus obscurus Kirby. — Length of body 9 10 lines. A pair taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house.

Body black. Nose separated from the front by a straight abbreviated line, with a deep oblique furrow on each side and no distinct rhinarium ; three last joints of the knob of the antennae ferruginous : prothorax anteriorly dilated : elytra with two rather obscure deep red bands, the anterior one broad, dentated and reaching from the epipleura to the suture : the posterior one externally broad, internally narrow, and reaching

narrower than usual : neither epipleura nor suture ; epipleura deep red, posterior trochanter emarginate. [Taken in Canada : at Toronto by Mr. Couper, and at Grimsby by Mr. Pettit.]

137. Necrophorus Mkj.shelmkri Kirby.—Length of body 9 lines. A single specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland- house. black. Nose from the front an [98. J Body separated by obtusangular three last of the line; rhinarium orange-coloured, subtrapezoidal ; joints knob of the antennae ferruginous : prothorax dilated anteriorly : elytra with two orange-coloured subundulated toothed bands reaching from the

to the suture : tro- epipleu'ra ; epipleura broad, orange-coloured posterior chanters truncated at the apex with the external angle recurved ; tibiae dilated, especially the anterior part, or cubits : postpectus on each side covered with tawny hairs. [Taken at Toronto by Mr. Couper.]

138. Necrophorus Hallii Kirby. —Length of body 8-9 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall, and in Massachusetts by Mr. Drake.

Body, as usual, black. Nose separated from the front by a straight channelled rhinarium anterior line, ; distinct, membranous, tawny, angles elongated: knob of the antennae with the three last joints dull-orange: prothorax nearly circular, anteriorly emarginate : elytra with an anterior 1:36 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

angular band which does not reach the suture, and a posterior crescent

or both of a black ; kidney-shaped spot, deep orange ; epipleura wings

: trochanters the dusky emarginate at tip.— — 139. Necrophorus pygm.kus Kirby. Plate ii., Fig. 3. Length of body 6 lines. A single specimen taken in the Rocky Mountains. [Taken at Grimsby, Out., by Mr, Pettit ; north shore of Lake Superior (Agassi/).]

[99.] This is the smallest known species of the genus. Xose separated

by a nearly straight line from the front : rhinarium transverse, not membranous ; knob of the antennas black : prothorax nearly circular, there is a slight sinus on each side, and a deeper anterior one : elytra with an anterior angular band dilated at the epipleura, and a nearly semicircular at the of a dull red of the same colour but spot apex deep ; epipleura black at the apex, and with a black spot at the base : posterior trochanters emarginate at the tip. 140. Necrodes [Silpha] Surinamensis Fabr. —Taken in Nova Sco- tia by Dr. MacCulloch. [Abundant on carrion in all parts of Canada.] [100.] 141. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] Marginale Fabr. —Length of body 6 lines. Several taken in Lat also Dr. specimens 54 , taken by Mac Culloch in Nova Scotia.

Body oblong, black, very thickly punctured. Head with an oblong punctiform impression in the space between the eyes : the margins of the prothorax, the lateral more widely, are of a pale-red : the whole disk is covered by a large three-lobed black spot, with the lateral lobes the smallest and shortest : the elytra are reddish-brown with three longitudinal ridges, the external One, as usual, stopping short of the apex. In the female the elytra at the apex are subsinuated and subacuminated. [Very common throughout Canada.] — 142. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] lapponicum Linn. [101.J Taken abundantly both in the journey from Newr York to Cumberland-house, in Lat. 65°, and in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. This species abounds in the huts of the Laplanders, devouring every thing—skins, flesh, and dried fish. [Very common throughout Canada. For description vide Say's Ent. Works ii.. 122, who described it as a new species under the name of S. eanda/a.] — of 143. Oiceptoma [Silpha] tritubercalatum Kirby. Length body 4^ lines. Several specimens taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house, and in Lat. 54°. ot [102.] This species appears to be the American representative Silpha opara, from which it differs in being smaller, and proportionally THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137

narrower; the prothorax is longer in proportion to its width, and has an besides obsolete channel : the elytra are more distinctly punctured, and the ordinary elevation at the termination of the external ridge, have two smaller at that of the other two the next the suture also ones ridges ; ridge is more elevated at its termination than in S. optica, of which in even- other respect it is the exact counterpart. The elytra of the female are slightly sinuated at the apex, and obtusely acuminate. Variety 15. Quite black. — — 144. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] [N^equale Fabr. Length of body 5 ^ 6 lines. Same localities as the preceding.

not at all not Body black, glossy, minutely punctured ; punctures visible except under a good lens. Three last joints of the antennae cinereous : prothorax anteriorly emarginate with four discoidal obtuse ridges, the lateral ones undulated and oblique and the intermediate ones straight and parallel : elytra with the three customary longitudinal ridges, the outermost the shortest and most elevated, and the intermediate one towards the inwards in the female the of the is apex curving ; apex elytra

in it subacuminate and very acute, but with scarcely any sinus ; the male is rounded. [Quite common in Canada.]

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

Acorn Weevils. — I see that in the last Canadian Entomologist,

to nasicus It is Air. f. Pettit refers the Acorn Weevil Balaninus Say. true that Say's descriptions are so brief that, not knowing how many specimens he described from, it is difficult to fully recognize his species, and Dr. Horn may, in this sense, be (mite right in stating that the acorn-feeding species cannot be referred to any that are described. Yet the species I have bred must evidently be referred to Say"s rectus, which is easily distinguished from nasicus by the finer, more rectilinear rostrum. If Mr.. Pettit has specimens of nasicus, I think he will have no difficulty in distinguishing the two species, and I shall be greatly obliged if he will send me a few of his acorn-bred specimens. In what I take to be nasicus, the rostrum is on an average darker, thicker more curved, shorter, and with the antennae springing from its middle

in its °. . vittae are the

hind the middle of the elytra and a sutural vitta. In the $ the rostrum is to three-fourths the of the in the it is equal length body ; $ equal to five-fourths. I believe it breeds entirely in hickory nuts. What I take to be rectus, on the contrary, has a finer, lighter-coloured rostrum which is much more in the and it rectilinear, especially £ ; always differs from nasicus in having no bands or vitta, the elytra being uniformly spotted as in sparsus Schcen. This is the species I breed from acorns, and I believe it also infests hazel-nuts.

There are several other species which closely resemble these two and seem to connect them, and I am satisfied that we can do very little in classifying them until their habits and variations are better understood. — C. V. Riley.

A Phenomenon. —The Ashy Blister Beetle, Lytta cinerea Fab. (Ma- crobasis Fabricii LeConteJ was very destructive to the potato vines in several parts of the Province of Quebec during last July. In some places it was exceedingly abundant, and attacked the Windsor bean as well as the potato. Five years ago it was also very common. Its appearance this year gave occasion to an article in one of the French newspapers published in Three Rivers, which is such a wonderful production that it is well worthy of being placed on record. Entomologists will have a smile at it, and think that a little better acquaintance with insect life would do our farmers and journalists no harm. The following is a free translation of the article : — " A NEW PLAGUE. " We are threatened, it would seem, by a new plague. A citizen, a good observer, reports to us that he has noticed the following phenomenon in a fine field of potatoes on his grounds in this town. He tells us that he has found on his potatoes a large quantity of blue beasts (winged, and the colour of blue stone), which rapidly devoured all the leaves of the plants, leaving only the bare stems. He gathered more than a quart of these insects. After some time, the insect undergoes a change. It dries in the sun, an opening appears beside the shoulders, near the neck, and a very active fly emerges, at first of a blue colour, which alights on the cabbages, and doubtless continues its ravages there. As it grows older, this fly becomes grass-coloured, probably on account of feeding on the cabbage leaves. This subject is a most important one, and merits the close attention of our agriculturists." What can the "active fly** be, which makes its appearance in such an THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 139

well extraordinary manner, issuing (as the Abbe Provancher expresses it), like Minerva from the brain of Jupiter ? The mystery will probably remain forever unsolved. The only solution that can be offered is, that as the "good observer" has mixed things so promiscuously, he may have

it mistaken the larva of Picris raptc for a fly, and fathered (or mothered) on the unfortunate Blistering Beetle, which has enough to do in attending to the potatoes, without providing for the cabbage also. This beetle seems to be the most injurious of the insects infesting the potato crop in Lower Canada, and its attacks cease about the beginning of August, when the insect is supposed to enter the earth to deposit its eggs. Cutworms, however, did some harm last spring by nipping off the young shoots; and a larva (perhaps of the same family), destroyed the seed in some places, by eating it—in the ground, as I was informed by a farmer in the vicinity of Quebec. G. J. Bowles, Quebec.

Butterfly Pictures ! —In the woods, near Stamford Bridge, Arge

Galathea but it has not been seen for some formerly abounded, years ; indeed, several of our most conspicuous butterflies (notably lo, Paphia, Rhamni, and Galathea). have lately become rare, or disappeared from the neighbourhood of York, Leeds and Sheffield, and this not from any "improvement" of the land, or, so far as appears, any alteration of the former conditions of .their existence, but simply from their merciless pursuit and wholesale slaughter by the makers of butterfly pictures. The numbers thus annually destroyed are almost incredible. I have known 250 peacocks used in the construction of an elephant, and upwards of 500

Vanessa Urtiete in the figure of a crocodile 3 feet long ! Galathea was an favourite with the tribe a of Lord in especial ; portrait Brougham butterflies, the checked trousers depicted by Galathea s wings, is con-

sidered a very clever work of art \ — E. Birchall, in Newmans Entomotogist.

Grasshoppers.—Under the pressure of necessity, a Salt Lake City blacksmith has invented a machine to kill grasshoppers. It can be manufactured for $75. It consists of a frame drawn by two horses, having an apron extending forward close to the ground to scrape up the locusts, with a hood above it, forming a box open in front. At the rear of the machine is a pair of rollers geared together, the upper one driven by the carrying wheels, of which it forms the axle. Whatever may find its way into the front of the machine is obliged to pass between the rollers at the back, which, being capable of being forced close together, are described as completely demoralizing the "ironclads." — Times. 140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c; The undersigned would be pleased to open communications with any Entomologist in Canada, United States or England with a view to ex- changing specimens. Address James Colwell, care of A. Choun, Kingston, Ont.

The undersigned Avould be pleased to correspond with Lepidopter- ologists (Southern and Western U. S. preferred), with a view to exchanges. Address Edw. L. Graef, 40 Court St., Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds* Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which I should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. — Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass. An American who has made a of Entomologist, speciality Lepidoptera,— would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street, Boston, Mass. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins.- We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of Klaegefs pins, Nos. 1,2,5 aRd 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. t being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each.

List of Canadian Coleoptera. — Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000, for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont.; W. Couper, Naturalist. Montreal, G. P.Q.; J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.: J. Johnston, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States. —The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.: Y. J. Green, Newport, Vt. ; W. V. Andrews. Room 17, No. 137 Broadway, New York. Cljc dTanairiau Entomologist.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., OCTOBER, 187 1. No. 8.

NOTES ON SOME INSECTS OF NOVA SCOTIA AND CANADA.

BY FRANCIS WALKER, F. L. S., LONDON", ENGLAND.

The following communication is introductory to a few remarks on the Nova Scotian and Canadian Insects which I have received through the kindness of J. M. Jones, Esq., W. Saunders. Esq., and Prof. Croft.

The study of the geographical distribution of Insects has become more interesting by the difference of opinion as to the origin and diffusion of species. The insects of separate arctic regions have a great mutual resemblance, and the difference between them increases in the successive concentric circles from the above regions towards the equator. It lias been said that the advance of the glacial period was accompanied by the migration of insects southward, and that the present distribution of insects was effected by the prevalance of this epoch and by the succeeding temperate epoch. During the diminution of the glacial, the arctic species of the present time migrated northward or ascended the mountains, and thus caused the partial identity of the insects of the Alps with those of the North. The similarity of insects of widely separated regions, such as

North Europe, North America, and North-east Asia, chiefly consists in

the arctic or northern forms ; the difference between them is found in the

species that have advanced northward in later times. Some species inhabit both the South and the North, and occur in Hindostan as well as in North Europe, but the rest appear either to have wholly continued in the South, or to have wholly migrated thence to the North. The insect-fauna of North America appears in two aspects— the northern aspect, which and in some cases resembles that of closely wholly North Europe ; and the southern aspect, which is very different from that of North Europe, and consists of species that have migrated from the South as for as Canada.

The Diptera in the following list are natives of Nova Scotia, and those " marked thus also inhabit Europe. 142 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MYCETOPHILID^.. TABANIDiE.

Mycetophila propinqua, Walk. Tabanus calens, Linn. contigua, Walk. flavipes? Wied.

1 laeta, Walk. . affinis, Kirby(frontalis, 1 alk). Sciara prsecipua, Walk. inscitus, Walk (bis lectum) CULICIIXK comes, Walk. gracilis, Wied. Culex stimidans, Walk. marginalis, Fabr. Walk. provocans, Walk. CHIRONOMID.E. simulans, Chrysops vittatus, Wied. Chironomus unicolor, Walk, moerens. Walk. TIPULID^E. carbonarius, Walk.

Pedicia albivitta, Walk. ASILIDyE.

contermina, Walk. Laphria posticata, Say. Limnobia Argus, Say. thoracica, Fabr. badia, Walk. sericea, Say.

Tipula triplex, Walk. sacrator, Walk. duplex, Walk. .-Eatus, Walk. flavicans, Fabr. Dasypogon sexfasciatus, Say. borealis, Walk. argenteus, Say. maculipennisj Say. Falto, Walk. resurgens, Walk. Lutatius, Walk.

frigida, Walk. Asilus apicalis, Wied. alterna, Walk. Lecythus, Walk. = Bittacomorpha clavipes, Fabr. Sadyates Abilux, Walk.

' Trlchocera bimacula, Walk. LEPTID.E. BIBIONIDÊ. LePTIS mystacea, Mao/. Penthetria atra, Mac,/. Chrysopila quadrata, Say. Bibio xanthopus; Wied. fumipennis, Say. humeralis, Walk. proxima, Walk. scita, J Talk. reflexa. Walk. vestita, Walk. BOMBYLIDÊ. Walker. gracilis, Thereva vicina, Walk, STRATIQMIDÊ. conspicua, Walk. Stratiomys norma, Wied. senex, Walk. Odontomyia intermedia, Wied. Anthrax tegminipennis, Say. vertebrata, Say. OEdipus, Fabr. Chrysomyia viridis, Say. fascipennis, Say. 3 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 43

Anthrax fulviana, Say. *Gastrus Equi, Fabr. Bastardi, Macq. subjacens. Walk. lateralis, Say. TACHINIDiE. vestita, Walk. Gymnosoma pair, Walk.

v l i u s Bomb pygin 2zws,Fabr. occidna, Walk. '•'major, Linn. Ocyptera Dosiades, Walk. Echinomyia Fabr. \ em pi ilk. hystrix,

algens3 Wied. IEmpis Ollius, Walk. riorum, Barnston. colonica, Walk. Walk. ' finitima, I SYRPHID/E. signifera, Walk. Byritta proxima. Say. decisa, Walk. Xyi.ota ejuncida, Say. candens, Walk. Li bo, Walk. Anaxias, Walk. Walk. Rhingta nasica, Say. iterans, Tachina Walk. *Helophilus pendulus, Linn. Ampelus, Walk, Latro, Barnston. Pyste, Walk. Merodon curvipes, Wied. Panaetius, Walk morosus, Walk. Mella, Thelitis, Walk Sericomyia militaris, Barnston. prisca, Walk. fllia, Walk. Walk. Ertstalis nebulosns, Barnston. Pansa, Wied. violenta, Walk. Walk. vinetorum, Fabr. irrequieta, Barnston. Gonia Philadelphica, Macq. ^transversas,rlavipes, lateralis, Walk. MUSCID^E. *Syrphus Ribesii, Linn. Dexta (Estheria Desv.) abdominalis, *Melithriptus Menthastri, Linn. Desv. *hieroglyphicus, Mei

Medetorub albiflorens, Walk. avida, Walk.

Dolichopus affiniSj Hal. rabida, Walk. CONOPIDiE. acerba, Walk. vigil, Walk. Cox ops sagittaria, Say. MYOPIDiE. Mesembrina Latreillii, Desv. Calliphora vicina, Desv. Myopa vicaria, Walk. *erythrocephala, Meig. OESTPJDiE. viridescens, Desv. Cuterebra horripihim, Wied. *LurTLiA cornieina, Fair. Oestrus supplens, Walk. *illustriSj Meig, U4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

*Musca eorvitia, Fabr. Anthomyia determinate, Walk. *vespillo, Meig. Opalia, Walk, leuco-

*Aptoneura meditabunda, Fabr stoma i Fall. *stabtilaDs, Fall. HELOMYZIDiE.

Stomoxys 1 Cybira, Walk. *Scatophaga stercoraria, Linn. ANTHOMYZID.E. *squalida, Merg. Barnston. Anthomyia Apina, Walk pubescenSj Walk. Barpana, Walk. intermedia, ""('.f.lopa 1 Hal. Narina, Walk. sciomyzina Actora Walk. Luteva, Walk. ferraginea, Helomyza Walk. Bysia, Walk. tincta, *Heteromyza Fall. Troene, Walk. buccata, Blepharipteea Walk. iEmene, Walk. fasciata, Fabr. Alcathoe, Walk. *Tetanocera elata, Dryomyza Walk. Lysinoe, Walk. convergeus, Ausoba, Walk. . LAUXANID.E. Anthomyia Signia, Walk. *Lauxania cylindricornis, Fabr. Geldria, Walk. *Elisoe, Wied. Donuca, Walk. *lupulma, Fabr. Brixia, Walk. Palloptera Philadelphiea, Macq. Viana, Walk.. GEOMYZID^E.

Isura, Walk. *Dro80PHILA cellaris, Linn.

LIST OF LEPIDOPTERA TAKEN AT QUEBEC.

BY G. J. BOWLES.

On page 95 ol Volume 11. of the Canadian Entomologist, I gave a list of the Diurnal Lepidoptera so far taken at Quebec. 1 now add the Mererocera as far as the Bombycidx, availing myself of the latest revision of the species by Dr. Packard and Mr. Grote. It is to be hoped that the researches of these eminent Entomologists have placed the nomenclature and grouping of these moths on a permanent basis. SPHINGINA.—Sesiam.

1. Sesia diffiuis, Boisduval. Rare. June. 2. Hamorrhagia thysbc, Fab. {Sesia palasgus, Cramer). Common in June.

3. Hcemorrhagia gracilis, Grote & Rob. Described from a specimen captured by me in June, 1865 (Proc. E. S. Phil. V. 175). its THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 145

habitat has been erroneously stated by them to be London, Ont, owing to their having received the moth from Mr. Saunders. (See page 10,

Vol. I., Can. Ent.) I have not met with the species since. SPHINGID^E.

Amphion nessus, Cramer. Not uncommon. Jul}'. Deilephila chamoenerii, Harris. Very common some seasons, and appears in June, at the time the lilac is in bloom, of which it is very fond. A larva which, T think, produces this species, feeds on Fuschias, and on Clarkia rosea. I took four of them this year on the latter plant in my garden. They have changed to pupae just below the surface of the ground. The caterpillars were of a dull olive green colour, with round cream-coloured spots in a row on each side, and a red caudal horn. Its native food-plant is unknown to me.*

Otus chosrilus, Cramer. ( Darapsa choerilus). Rare. June. Sphinx chersis, Hubner. [Sphinx einerea, Harris). Rare. June or July. Sphinx Kalm'uc. Abbott & Smith. Not uncommon. June or July. 1 have taken the larva on lilac, also on Fraxinus sambncifolia.

Sphinx dfupiferarum, Abbott

species, on the 25th and 26th August, from Basswood trees near the

Anglican Cathedral, Quebec, but have seen none for several seasons past.' It appears in June, and may be considered rare.

Ellema Ifarrisii, Clemens. I'ncommon. June or Jul}". Smerinthns modesta, Harris. Very rare. SmeHnthus exearatus, Abbott & Smith. Not uncommon. June or July. Smerinthns geminatas, Say. Not uncommon. June or July. AKCERIAD.K.

Trochilium tipuliformis, Harris. Very common on red and black currant. July. * The Editor mentions having captured this species at Sault Ste. Marie in middle of August. (Page 83 of this volume.) 146 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

I have three species of Trochilium, which are still unnamed. .No. i answers well to the description of the male of T cxitiosa, Say, but unless its larva lives in some other tree than the peach or cherry, it cannot be this insect, as these fruit trees are not cultivated in the Quebec region. This species is rare. No. 2 may be the Trochilium acerni of Clemens, described in Morris' " Synopsis, page 330. It is an uncommon insect. The Northern States'' is given as its habitat by Clemens.

No. 3. This ^Egerian is perhaps the Trochilium pyramidcUis of Walker (C. B. M., VIII. 40) described on page 331 of Morris' Synopsis, though the locality given there is far north of Quebec. It is a rare species.

Tliyris metadata, Harris. Very rare. June. . ZVG.'ENID^E.

Alypia Langtonii, Couper. Taken by him and described in the Canadian Naturalist for 1865, page 64. Not uncommon. Eudryas grata, Fab. This moth is abundant some seasons. In 1868 I saw them in large numbers on hops, in a small garden. No grape-vines were in the vicinity. This year I found numerous larvae on wild grape" vines.

Ctenucha virginica, Charpentier. Common. Lycomorpha pho/us, Drury. (Glaucopis pholus). Not common. I have only taken it in one locality—a rocky ridge where lichens grow about five miles from the plentifully,— city. Note. This arrangement of the Zygcenidaz is in accordance with " Packard's Notes on the Zygaenidae" in Proc. Essex Ins., 1864.

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

EV V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KV

Continued from Page 130.

LITHOCOLLETIS. — 23. L. Cincinnatiella. N. sp.

Face, palpi, under surface and legs silvery-white, the legs marked on their anterior surface with golden and brownish spots and bands : tuft, at the sides antennae white, golden ; silvery-white beneath, above golden brown faintly annulate with whitish : thorax and anterior wings bright THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 147

the is a short snow-white median basal streak golden ; upon wings strongly dark-margined behind and within. (Sometimes the anterior margin and sides of the thorax are also white). Two snow-white fasciae, one at about the basal ^th, the other about the middle, both strongly and sometimes so and both dark-margined behind, slightly interiorly ; near the costa with the first sometimes strongly angulated posteriorly ; slightly interrupted at the angle, and the dark margin of the second posteriorly produced. A long oblique snow-white dorsal streak at the base of the dorsal ciliae posteriorly dark-margined, and a smaller costal one a little behind it at the base of the costal ciliae, similarly dark-margined. This dorsal streak is sometimes posteriorly produced, and confluent with a straight dorso-apical streak, which is faintly dark-margined behind, but is sometimes entirely wanting. When present it forms the interior border to the apical dusting. Sometimes the costal streak is produced so as to be confluent with it also, and opposite to it there is sometimes a costo- apical white spot which is separated from it by the apical dusting, which extends thence to the apex and is black upon a white ground. Hinder x marginal line in the ciliae dark brown. Ciliae golden. Al. ex. % to /i inch. Kentucky. Wisconsin. One of the commonest and prettiest species. The larva mines the leaves of White Oaks. (.Quercus Alba and Q. obtusiloba), and sometimes there are several mines on the same leaf. It mines the upper surface. There are always several larvae in a mine, and this is the species of which (as stated ante p 55) I have counted fifteen small larvae in a single small mine. The mine is brownish-yellow and spreads frequently over a large part of the leaf, and may thus be distinguished from the whitish mine of L. hamadryadella which sometimes is found upon the same leaf with it. The young larvae lie packed together side by side in the mine in a curve or crescent, and the mine for some distance shows a series of concentric curves gradually enlarging as the larvae grow. The frass is scattered. The older larvae scatter, and usually most of them leave the mine and perish. It is much preyed upon by spiders, which, I believe, from various circumstances (though I have larvae. not caught them flagrante delicto), tear open the mines and eat the The same thing happens to various other species of larvae. The mines of this and many other species are also much infested by a black species of

Thrips. What its business in them is, I have not ascertained. Various mites are also found in them. This species passes the winter in the larval condition and forms its pupa in a flat thin cocoon or web in the mine, becoming a pupa in April, and the imago emerging in about ten 148 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

larva is whitish days. The flat, ; head and sides of the first segment yellowish. Maculae very indistinct and pale yellowish. All of the larvae that I have examined this summer were of this character except in one mine, where with several flat larvae there was one dead cylindrical one. My recollection, however, is very distinct that the first mine that I opened and which was gathered in March from a tree on which it had hung all the winter, contained two pupae and four cylindrical larvae, and the description in my notes made at the the time confirms my recollection. These four larvae became pupae, and I have now by me the imagines which I bred from them, and I can not conceive how my eyes could have deceived me so as to mistake a flat larva for a cylindrical one. Yet

I am loath to believe that there are two larval forms in the species, although it is well known that there are two in the genus.

t t Without but with dorsal and costal streaks. — fascia, 24. L. Argentinotella Clem. Loc. cit. sup., p. $25.

Dr. Clemens describes the imago of this handsome species, but says that he can give no account of its larva, or food plant. I have bred it from a tent mine on the under side of Elm leaves ( Limits Americana), The larva is cylindrical and yellowish. All of my specimens have the white line on the anterior margin of the thorax extended back over the tegulae, and confluent with the basal streak. Dr. Clemens does not mention these markings of the thorax, but they are so variable in many species—sometimes present, sometimes absent—that I have no doubt of the identity of my specimens with that described by Dr. Clemens, as they agree in all other respects, and I have never met

with which be for it. Alar, ex in, any species might mistaken )/± Ken- and Common. tucky — Pennsylvania. 25. L. basistrigella Clem. Loc. cit. sup., p. 321.

There is some variation in the disposition of the apical dusting, and sometimes it is nearly wanting, and frequently the first dorsal streak docs not quite attain the dorsal margin and is not produced to the base of the Alar. ex. to in. The larva is and makes a wing. % nearly J/j cylindrical tent mine between two veins on the under side of the leaves of White and Chestnut Oaks alba ( Q. and bicolor and prinoides). Common. Kentucky and Pennsylvania. 26. —L. Ulmetla. N. sp. Face and palpi silvery-white, tuft white intermixed with golden. Antennae silvery-white, the apical two-thirds annulate with brownish. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 149

Legs and under surface silvery-white. Anterior wings bright golden, inclining to orange, with a white streak along the dorsal margin from the base to the cilise, where it is deflexed and passes on to the dusted portion of the apex which is near the posterior margin, and is dark brown on a white ground. There are three small costal silvery streaks, the first and second being near the middle of the costal margin, and the second one the largest, while the third is small and near the apex. There is some variation in the size of the third costal streak and in the extent of the apical dusting, and sometimes the costal streaks are faintly dark-margined. The abdomen and legs are very pale-golden varied with white. Alar. ex. J yl to nearly j in. Two specimens, taken at Columbus, Georgia, were so much larger than my Kentucky specimens that 1 was inclined to regard them as specifically distinct, but they were so much injured before I had an opportunity to compare them with my Kentucky specimens, that

I can not be certain : smaller are more the specimens ( $ ?) distinctly

marked than the larger. The larva is flat and makes an irregular blotch- mine, with scattered frass, in the upper surface of the leaves of Ulmus Americana, It resembles closely the larva of L. Ciucinnatiella, but it is more greenish, whilst the imago resembles L. basistrigella somewhat, which has a cylindrical larva.

HINTS TO FRUIT GROWERS.

PAPER No. 4.

BY V.'. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

Attacus cecropia. — During the winter months, when the apple trees are leafless, the large cocoons of the Cecropia moth may be found here and there, firmly bound to the twigs, and occasionally I have seen them on young trees attached to the stock near the ground. They arc about

three inches long, pod-shaped (see fig. 31), and of a dirty brown colour, 150 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

and are entirely constructed of silk, the fibres of which are very much stronger than those of the common silk worm Bombyx mori. This silk has been worked to a limited extent and manufactured into socks and other which have been found to articles, very durable ; but a drawback the advancement of this branch of industry lies in the fact that the caterpillars do not bear confinement well, and hence are not easily reared.

The exterior structure of the cocoon is very close and papery-like, but on cutting through this, we find the interior— surrounding the dark brown chrysalis—made up of loose fibres of strong yellow silk. This snug enclosure effectually protects the insect in its dormant state from the extremes of weather during the long wintry months. When the time approaches for the escape of the moth, which is about the beginning of June, the internal dark brown chrysalis is ruptured by the struggles of the occupant, and the newly born moth begins to work its way out of the cocoon. As it is possessed of no cutting instrument of any kind, this would indeed be a hopeless task had not the all-wise Creator made a special provision for this purpose, and to this end a fluid adapted for softening the fibres is furnished just at this juncture and secreted from about the mouth. On listening to the creature as it works its way through, you hear a scraping, tearing sound, which is made by the insect working with the claws on its fore-feet, tearing away the softened fibres and packing them on each side to make a channel for its escape. The place of exit is the smaller end of the cocoon, which is more loosely made than any other part and through which, after the internal obstacles are over- come, the passage is effected without much further trouble.

I have frequently watched their escape. First through the opening is thrust the anterior pair of bushy looking legs, the sharp claws of which effort the is fasten on the outside structure ; then with an head drawn the beautiful feather-like antennae the forward, suddenly displaying ; next,

thorax, on which is borne the other two pairs of legs, is liberated, and

finally, the escape is completed by the withdrawal of the abdomen, through the orifice thus made. Queer looking creatures they are when they first

put in an appearance, with their large, fat, juicy bodies, and tiny wings. When the wings are fully expanded they measure from five to six inches or more across, but when fresh from the chrysalis they are but very little larger than the wings of a bumble bee. The first necessity now for the welfare of the individual is to find a suitable location where the wings may be held in a good position for expanding, for without such favorable

152 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 153

circumstance they would never attain a serviceable size. It is necessary that a position should be secured where the wings may hang down as they are expanding, for which purpose the under side of a twig is often selected the the ; and here, securely suspended by claws, wings undergo in a short time the most marvellous growth it is possible to imagine. The whole process, from the time of the escape of the moth to its full maturity, seldom occupies more than from half an hour to an hour, and during this time the wings grow from the diminutive size already mentioned to their full measure and capacity. A wing clipped from the insect immediately after its escape, and examined under the microscope, reveals the fact that the thousands and tens of thousands of scales with which the wings are covered, and which afterwards assume such beautiful feather-like forms, are now nearly all threadlike, not folded up or wrinkled, but undeveloped. Impressed with

this thought, the mind is fairly astonished at the almost incredible change wrought in so limited a time, for the growth embraces not only the exten- sion of the surface of the wing, but the enlargement and maturity of every

scale or feather on it, the individuals of which are but as dust to the naked eye. AYhat a wonderful and intricate system of circulation and power of nutrition must be possessed to accomplish this marvellous result ! As some of our readers may not be familiar with the appearance of

this it. after our largest moth, we append a figure of (See fig. 32). Soon their exit these moths seek their mates, and after pairing, the female begms to deposit her eggs, a process which occupies some time, for the eggs are not laid in patches or groups, but singly; and are firmly fastened with a glutinous material to the under side of a leaf; and as it is seldom there, are more than one or two laid on any single tree or bush, a considerable distance must be traversed by the parent in the transaction of this all- important business.

Until the present season, I never had an opportunity of fairly com-

puting the number of eggs which one of these moths will lay, and had roughly estimated them in my own mind at from 50 to 100. About the first ot June, a pair of cecropias came into my possession, and afforded a favourable opportunity of throwing light on this point. On the 3rd of June, the female began to deposit eggs, which she continued to do at intervals until the 6th, and in a few days afterwards, died. On counting the eggs I found them to number 217. When we consider the relative size —for — they are large it may readily be imagined, that the size of the body of the moth, was much reduced upon the completion of her task. The 154 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

egg is about one-tenth of an inch long, nearly round, and of a dull creamy white colour, with a reddish spot or streak near the centre. The exact duration of the egg stage was not noted, but may be set down as probably from a week to ten days.

At the expiration of this period, the larva eats its way out of the egg. the empty shell of which furnishes the young thing with its first meal. At first it is black, with little shining black knobs on its body, from which arise hairs of the same colour. Being furnished with a superior appetite,

its growth is very rapid : and from time to time its exterior coat or skin becomes too tight for its comfort, when it is ruptured, and thrown oft". At each of these changes or moultings the caterpillar appears in an altered garb, gradually becoming more like the full-grown larva represented in the accompanying figure. (See fig 33.) It is very handsome. Its body is

KIG 33. pale green, the large warts or tubercles on the top of the 3rd and 4th segments are coral red, the remainder are yellow excepting those on the second and terminal segments, which, in common with the smaller tuber- ' cles along the sides, are blue. During its growth from the diminutive creature as it escapes from the egg, to the monstrous-looking full grown

it an of food and es- specimen, consumes immense amount vegetable ; pecially as it approaches maturity, is this voracious appetite apparent. Where one or two have been placed on a young apple tree, they will often thus the strip it entirely bare before they have done with it, and prevent proper ripening of the wood, entailing damage to the tree and sometimes its life their should be watched endangering ; hence, during season, they for and destroyed. Now that their period of active labor is over, their THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 155

cocoons may be looked for, and removed in time to check their further increase. In the caterpillar state they are not of dainty appetite, and, while to the will eat other as well were it not partial apple, foliage ; so, we should soon hear more of their destructive effects. We have taken them feeding- on cherry, plum, maple, willow, lilac, black and red currant, and hazel, and they are said to attack also the hickory, birch, elm, honey locust, barberry, hawthorn, and elder.

The natural increase of this insect being so great, a wise provision has been made to keep it within bounds. Besides enemies which attack the egg, and young larva, there are several parasites, which live within the of the it before and in body caterpillar and destroy reaching maturity ; this way, their numbers, which would otherwise soon be alarming, are kept within moderate limits.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirbx's Fauna Boreali- Americana : Inseeia.

(Continued from page 137.) — [103.] 145. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] Americanum Linn. Length of lines lines. in Nova Scotia Hall. body Sj4 ; breadth 7 Taken by Capt.

Body very much depressed, thickly punctured with a hair issuing from each on the under-side black. Head with a round puncture ; impression between the eyes: prothoroix pale-yellow with a subquadrangular sublobate black in the disk of the those of the spot ; punctures prothorax very thick,

discoidal spot resembling scratches : elytra brown-black, rather silky, with two obsolete that do not reach the longitudinal, undulated, ridges apex ; their surface is covered with irregular elevations, and near the suture is a series of wide with its horizontal punctiform impressions ; epipleura very portion resplendent with a lustre between bronze and gold, vertical part, or inner the suture of the terminates in a minute margin, yellow ; elytra point. Olivier says there are three ridges on the elytra, but only two are discernible in the specimen here described. It is singular that no author has noticed the brilliant side-covers of the elytra. [Synonymous with S. Common in Canada north shore of Lake peltata Catesby. ; Superior

(Agassiz).] 156 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

146. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] terminatum Kirby. — Length of body 9^ lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. This species seems nearly related to O. Americanum^ but it is narrower in proportion to its length, the front has a distinct oblong impression the are at the and which last is ; elytra yellow apex acuminate, a sexual character the is less brilliant than in the probably ; epipleura preceding species, and the elytra are not silky. In other respects it resembles it and may possibly be the female. [A variety of Silpha peltata taken at Toronto Mr. Catesby ; by Couper.] 147. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] affine Kirby. —Length of body 9 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. Mac Culloch.

Very like the preceding species, but the frontal impression is smaller and round: the discoidal black spot of the prothorax is smaller, with the lateral lobes rounded, and with round confluent punctures : the horizontal part of the epipleura is black with a slight tint of blue, and not at all bronzed. [Also a variety of >S. peltata. Taken at Toronto by Mr. and on north shore of Couper ; Lake Superior by Agassiz's Expedition.]

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

On the Swarming of Danais ARCHIPPUS. —On the first day of September, while driving along the Lake Shore Road, on the borders of I was favoured with a Lake Erie, a mile or two south of Port Stanley, sight which will not soon be forgotten. For several days previous, Archippus butterflies had been unusually abundant, and early in the morning of the day in question, some groups—numbering probably hundreds of individuals—which had rested during the night on trees adjoining the hotel at Port Stanley, were gyrating in a wild manner at all heights, some so far up that they appeared but as moving specks in the sky, others floating lower, over the tops of the trees, in an apparently aimless manner. This was, however, as a mere skirmishing party when compared with the vast hosts seen a little later. It was about nine o clock in the morning when, passing a group Of trees forming a rude semicircle on the edge of a wood facing the lake, the unusual leaves attracted attention : they seeming possessed of motion, a nearer and displayed fitful patches of brilliant red. On alighting, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 157

approach revealed the presence of vast numbers — I might safely say millions—of these butterflies clustering everywhere. 1 counted a small space, about the size of my two hands, on one of the trees, and there were thirty-two butterflies suspended on it, and the whole group of trees was hung in a similar manner. When disturbed, they flew up in immense numbers, filling the air, and after floating about a short time, gradually settled again. There appeared to be nothing on the trees to attract them, yet when undisturbed they appeared at this time, to prefer resting in quiet, as if enjoying the presence of congenial society. I regretted not having a net with me, as I should like to have captured a number of them to see in what proportion the sexes were represeted in the company. Their food plants—the various species of Asclcpias—did not appear to be unusually common in that section. I apprehended that many of the individuals must have travelled some distance to be present at this gathering. The fact that the larva of Archippus is but seldom affected with parasites may account for their occasional abundance I know of one partially ; only small ichneumon infesting them, and have seldom met with this.

W. Saunders, London, (Jnt.

Abundance oe I). Archippes in Massachesetts. — I wish to call attention to the fact that Dana is archippus, Fab., is exceedingly common all over New England this season. It is well known that many species of our butterflies have a year of great abundance, and then are almost unknown for quite a series of years. The cause of this is usually attributed to a scarcity of insect enemies, and a favorable season for their food. This abundance of a species is a sufficient reason for the multiplication of parasitic enemies, which increase to the point of almost total extermina- tion of the species attacked, as well as themselves. Two years ago, Cynthia cardui was very abundant, and I obtained over one hundred larvae, not

one of which could I raise on account of a parasitic fly-larvae which were so abundant as to lack food for their own maturity, practically extermin- ating one another. Since then I have not seen a single cardui. Whether

the parasitic fly is common 1 am unable to say, I am confident that to some extent the above is true of many species, btit D. archippus never has to my knowledge any enemies, for this year I have raised abundance of larvae and taken many chrysalids; but all were sound. Therefore we must hunt for some other cause of their disappearance. Perhaps others more interested in Lepidoptera than myself may have gathered facts which will throw light upon this subject, and to draw out these experiences induces 158 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

me to write this note. My little son has found a parasite in the chrysalis of Pieris rapae, Sch., which I will report on as soon as worked up. Philip S. Sprague, Boston, Mass.

Cocoons Made by Snout-beetles. — I was sorry to find, upon glanc- ing over my late communication that, as it appears on page 118, I have " in my haste made too sweeping an assertion in stating that Curculionidous in larvae do not spin silken cocoons,"' (lines 16 and 17). I know of none this country which have any such power of spinning, and this is so very generally the case with the family that it may almost be stated as a rule. Yet, Westwood in his Introductio?i mentions, on other authority, several instances of such spinning, some of which I am inclined to think must be taken aim grano sa/is. It will be well to instance them, however. On page

337 (Vol. II.) he speaks of the perfect female of Rhynchites bacchus, Linn., as lining her nidus with silk, yet from the writings of Kollar, Nordlinger, Boisduval and others, we may learn that this nidus is simply closed with a glutinous substance, and whether secreted from the mouth or anus does not appear so clear. Again, on page 341, mention is made of an undetermined species which in the larva state draws the clusters of apple blossoms together by means of a web. This is on the authority of Salis- bury on Orchards, which I cannot consider very trustworthy. But on page 343 we find sufficiently authentic notices of cocoons spun by larva: belonging to the genera Hypera and Clonus, and by another weevil named Curculio p'unpinellce : my statement should, therefore, be qualified.

C. A'. Riley.

Artificial Colouring of Lepidoptera. —At a recent meeting of the Entomological Society of London, (England), Air. Butler exhibited species of Lepidoptera, upon which experiments had been made by Mr. Meldola, with regard to testing the effects of dyes. The insects were

Pieris brassiece and napi, Gonopteryx r/iamni, Vanessa urticce, Pyrantels

Atalanta and Arctia caja. The most striking effects were observable in P. napi dyed black, and A. caja dyed metallic-green and magenta. The

dyes used were aniline. Mr. Meldola dissolved the dyes in spirits of wine and laid them on with a camel-hair pencil. Not being satisfied with Mr. Meldola's experiments, Mr. Butler resolved upon performing others on his own account but then of the he ; being ignorant system pursued, dissolved his dyes in hot water, and discovered that the specimens would not take them. He then made a solution of soda, into which he dipped 6". rJiamni, and found that the yellow pigment immediately united with THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 159

the soda, and was discharged into the solution, which it visibly coloured, and he saw no reason why, if a sufficient number of individuals were experimented upon, the colour should not be collected and utilised. Colias Edusa and Hyah\ Da/mis Chrysippus and Vanessa urtiar, were deprived of their natural colours in the same manner. Mr. Butler had experimented upon G. rJuwini (dyed blue), C. Edusa and Hyah\ Papilio Demoleus, Lyccena Corydon, Danais Chrysippus, Argynnis Adippe and Ag/aia, Vanessa urticce, Epinephele J^anira, A re/id caja and villica. The most successful results were obtained with Danais Chrysippus, deprived of its natural colours and dyed blue, which colour onlv entered certain scales, whereas magenta, being a faster dye, entered all : and V. urtixc, dyed blue in one case, and magenta in another ; the latter resembled a typical South-African Juuonia, the former a melanitic variety of the same species. The peculiarity in these specimens consisted in certain parts of the wings not taking the dye, leading to the conclusion that the scales are more perfectly closed in these parts. Mr. Meldola (who was present as a visitor) remarked that he had also made with alkalies the of G.rhamni removed experiments ; yellow being by soda, and precipitated by the addition of an acid. He possessed an example of Vanessa To altered to deep mahogany-colour by exposure to the fumes of ammonia.

Mr. Bicknell exhibited a number of examples of Gonopteryx rhamni, upon which he had experimented with cyanide of potassium, as suggested at the last meeting. The yellow was changed to orange-red in the parts exposed to the cyanide. Mr. F. Smith stated that he had seen a number of wasps that had been killed by cyanide of potassium, and which, in consequence, were changed to vermilion.

The hope was expressed that these interesting experiments would not be taken advantage of by unscrupulous persons, in consequence of the prevailing disposition to pay high prices for varieties of common Lepidop- tera. —The Zoologist.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS.

In future, separate receipts for subscriptions will be sent with the next number of the Canadian Entomologist that is issued after the reception by the Secretary of any such remittances. 160 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGISTx.

EXCHANGES, &c. The undersigned would be pleased to open communications with any Entomologist in Canada, United States or England with a view to ex- changing specimens. Address James Colwell, care of A. Choun, Kingston, Out. The undersigned would be pleased to correspond with Lepidopter- ologists (Southern and Western l*. S. preferred), with a view to exchanges. Address Edw. L. Graef, 40 Court St., Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S.

Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds' Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which I should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. — " Joseph E. Lock Box 46, Holvoke. Mass. Chase, ..

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. — Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street, Boston,

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of

List of Canadian Coleoptera.—Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000, for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada.—E. B. Reed, London, Ont.; W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal,

P.Q.; G. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.; J. Johnston, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States.—The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.;

J. Y. Green, Newport, Vt.; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadway, New York. %\t Canabian dMoniologist

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 1871. No. 9

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KY

Continued from Pa#e 14i».

LITHOCOLLETIS.

2 j. LitJiocolleiis f Ornatella. N. sp.

This is the insect previously mentioned in these papers as Leucanthiza Ornatella. At first I was inclined to place it in Lithocolletis, but a consideration of some of its peculiarities induced me to place it provisionally in Dr. Clemens" genus, Leucanthiza. On examination of the neuration of the wings, however, and of some other points in its structure and habits, it seems to me to belong more properly to Lithocolktis, though it differs from it in some respects and approaches Leucanthiza, and more remotely. Phyllocnistis and Lyonetia. The tuft is small, resembling that of Leucati thiza more than Lithocolletis. The palpi, ascending in the living insect as in both of those genera, are, after death, usually, not simply drooping as in Lithocolletis, but laid side by side upon the coxa? as in Lyonetia. " Sometimes, however, they are simply drooping. (Where the Micro" is killed by the fumes of chloroform— as I usually kill them—the positions of the palpi, tongue and wings are variable, and do not afford good characters. resembles that of Leucanthiza generic ) The larva, perhaps, most nearlv, having the head too much rounded and the sides of the

segments more distinctly mammillated than the flat larva of Lithocolletis. It also usually leaves the mine and pupates in a yellowish silken nidus, in which it resembles Leucanthiza and Lyonetia more than it does Lithocol- letis. The wings, however, have fewer veins than those of either Leucan- thiza or Lyonetia. and approach very nearly in their neuration to some species of Lithocolletis, though also differing slightly from it. lyonetia has a smooth head, longer palpi, and the basal joint of the antennae expanded so as to form an eye-cap, and there are four marginal nervules emitted from the sub-costal vein. The mine is a long narrow winding track like that of Phyllocnistis, and in all of these respects it differs from this 162 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

insect, and it also differs in the form of the larva. Phyllocnistis differs in the form of the larva and of the mine. It in the mine the head pupates ; is smooth, and the anterior wings are caudate. In all of these respects it clearly differs from this insect. The neuration of the anterior wings, however, differs from that of this insect only in having one more marginal nervule given off from the median vein. In Lithocolletis there is one nervule

r emitted from the tip of the diseal cell, and it passes to the tip of the w ing. In Leucanthiza there are two : one going to the costa, the other to the hind margin. In this insect there is but one ; but that one is furcate, sending a branch to the inner margin, and one to the tip. In Lcuca?ithiza the subcostal sends three short veins to the costa. In Lithocolletis it sends but two, and in many species one of them is emitted at the base of the apical nervule, while in others they are both more remote from the apical nervule as they also are in Leucanthiza. In this insect the subcostal sends but two nervulcs to the costa, one of which is emitted at the base of the apical nervule, as in some species of Lithocolletis. In Leucanthiza and in Lithocolletis, so far as I have observed (except in Lithocolletis desmodiella) and in Phyllocnistis, the median vein sends two nervules to the hinder margin, whilst in this insect and in L. desmodiella it sends but one. L. desmodiella also strongly resembles this insect in the pattern of ornamentation but it to the division of that which has ; belongs genus cylindrical larvae. Clemens states that the subcostal vein of the hind wings is simple in Leucanthiza. I have not examined it. He also says that it is simple in Lithocolletis ; but I have found it distinctly furcate in every species that L have examined, and I have examined several. He says that it is furcate in Phyllocnistis. But I have found it simple in P. viiifoliella n. sp. He says that it is furcate in Lyonetia. I have not examined it. In this species it is distinctly furcate, precisely as I have found it in Lithocolletis and as Clemens describes it in Lyonetia. This insect, therefore, seems to me to approach more nearly to Litho- colletis both in pattern of colouration and structure, than to any of the above named genera, although it is very near to Leucanthiza, if it does not in fact bridge over the differences between them, and reunite Leuca?ithiza to Lithocolletis—from which Dr. Clemens separated it. The pattern of colouration in the wings of Leucanthiza also differs from this insect, though the shades of the colours, and the disposition of them on the head, thorax, and base of the wings is the same in the only species described by Dr.

Clemens, viz. : Leucanthiza Amphicarpeaefoliella. This insect, therefore, is properly placed in Lithocolletis, or a new THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 163

must be created for it and I am averse to the of genus ; multiplication genera on smill differences. And if this insect is properly placed in Litho- in neuration of colletls, then Leucanthiza only differs from Lithocottetis the the wings and but little in that.

The tongue is yellowish : palpi silvery white. Face, under surface and

legs, silvery white, opalescent or purplish, according to the light. The legs are marked with golden brown on their anterior surfaces. Antennae brown, opalescent in some lights. Tuft, thorax, and base of the wings, maroon, opalescent or golden, according to the light, more golden towards the dorsal margin of the wing, and brownish towards the costa, passing at about the basal ^ into a dark maroon band, which forms the dark internal of the first silver-white fascia behind this the margin ; fascia, wing is pale golden, passing into deep golden, then brownish golden, and into the deep maroon internal margin of the second silvery-white fascia which is the of the then the same succession of placed about middle wing ;

is in the middle colours to the third fascia, which slightly intercepted ; then the same succession of colours to a costal white streak at the base of the dorsal one these streaks are also dark ciliae, and an apposite ; faintly margined on the apical side. Apical portion of the wing bright golden, line at the base. ciliae silvery, with a wide maroon-brown hinder-marginal to a red The golden portions of the wing vary with the light from golden saffron, suffused with purple or brown, and the fasciae are white, silvery, Dr. or steel-gray. The cocoon is yellow. The larva is that described by Fitch as the larva of his Anacampsis robiniella. The mine is flat, yellowish, and upon either side of the leaflet of the Locust (Robinia pscudacacia), and in the Rose acacia (R. hispida). Alar. ex. % inch. Common Kentucky. (L. robinie/la also feeds on R. hispida).

28. L. Salicifoliella.

In Proc. Ent. Soc. Phi/a., VI., p. yy and p. 81, Dr. Clemens applies this he name to a species which was known to him only by its mine, which, the willow says, is "near the base along the edge"' of the leaves of yellow in* the (Salix Alba), and the mines were empty. He found the mines on latter part of July. Dr. Packard mentions the species ( Guide, p. 333) unknown unless the authority of Dr. Clemens. But the insect remains I have two that presently described is the same, as I believe it to be. but which I specimens, differing slightly from each other, as noted below, a mine on have no doubt are of the same species. One was bred from the underside of a leaf of the Weeping Willow (S. Babylonica) ; the 164 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

I have other from a mine on the underside of a leaf of S. hvigifolia ; and found empty mines exactly like them and containing the same dark brown in pupa skin, on the leaves of the Yellow Willow ( S. alba), and it was leaves of this species that Dr. Clemens found his mines. These mines were not '"near the base along the edge." and were not confined to any particular portion of the under surface. I have seen another smaller mine near the base and at the edge of the leaf, which may be that of a Litho- but colletis, but which is more probably that of a Graeillaria. And I have little doubt that the species now to be described is the same that was referred to by Dr. Clemens. But I am not certain that it is not the

European species L. pastorella. That species also feeds on S. alba, which, as well as S. Babylonica, is an imported species, and if either of these

trees is its original food-plant, then L. salicifoliella is not an indigenous

is. In species. But if S. longifolia is its original food-plant, then it Staintoirs arrangement of the species, L. pastorella belongs to his group 5. " Anterior wings dull whitish-gray, with indistinct darker marginal mark-

ings ;"' and he places it next before L. populifoliclla, which he figures. Hist. Tin. a (Nat. v. 2, plate 7, fig. 1) and which has, as figured, strong general resemblance to this insect. It is therefore not impossible that this is L. L. pastorella. It is intermediate between L. populifoliella and sylvella as figured by Stainton, and in the arrangement of the species which I have followed, it should follow L. hamadryadella, which also bears considerable this resemblance to L. sylvella. L. hamadryadella, however, resembles species rather in the colour of the markings than in the arrangement of them.

The specimen from the Weeping Willow has the palpi and lace white, the face flecked with a few pale yellowish gray scales. Tuft brown with intermixed grayish -brown scales. Antennae white, each joint tipped above with pale grayish-brown. Thorax and anterior of wings white, thickly dusted with grayish -brown, and the markings the wings are drab, gray-brown or pale golden, according to the light. There is an oblong streak of this indescribable hue on the base of the costal margin, and a rather indistinct patch of the same near the base of the dorsal but not the a curved, margin, touching margin ; slightly angu-

lated fascia of the same hue at about the basal fourth : a slightly oblique, dark- rather wide costal streak of the same hue just before the middle, and of the margined behind upon the costa : it extends to the middle disc, to another where it is bent backwards, and is posteriorly produced almost the middle, it is straight fascia of the same hue, which is placed behind THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 165

slightly interrupted in the middle, and is narrowly dark-margined posteriorly; (on one wing it is not interrupted, but it is angulated and produced the cilice posteriorly) ; another rather wide fascia of the same hue, before slightly produced along the base of the dorsal cilice. An apical brown streak and a costo-apical streak (of the same hue as the fasciae), which reaches the inner end of the brown streak and is there bent backwards passing around the end of the brown streak, and in a direction nearly parallel with it to the dorsal cilice just behind the apex. Hinder marginal line at the base of the apical cilice golden brown. Cilice pale golden. The specimen from S. lo?igifolia is scarcely at all dusted, the markings are paler and narrower, though similarly disposed, and the white ground colour is not so marked as in the other, but I have no doubt they are of the same species.

2p. L. juglandiella. Dr. which Clemens (loc. cit.) names this species also from the larva he found mining the upper surface of leaflets of the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), and Dr. Packard refers to it in the same way as to the last named species. Dr. Clemens suggests the probability that it may be identical with L. caryaefoliella. I have never found it on the Walnut, but have occasionally, though rarely, found it in the leaves of the Butternut, (yuglans cinerea), and judging from the larva, without having bred the imago, I have no doubt that it is L. caryaefoliella. Clemens, ante p. log.

L. tubiferella. Clem. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sri., Pliila., June, iS6o,p. 208.

1 have not succeeded as yet in getting this species from the mine, and have never seen the imago. But I have found on the upper surface of leaves of the White Oak ( Quercus alba) a larva and mine which I believe to be the same described by Dr. Clemens. It is a long, rather narrow band, gradually widening, in which the larva lies transversely, eating first upon one and then upon the other side, so that the frass is deposited in a narrow line along each side. Dr. Clemens has alluded to the peculiar appearance of the larva, which in fact differs from the ordinary flat Litho- colktis larva, as much as that does from the larva of the first group (cylindrical). It is considerably larger, vertically thicker, depressed but not flat, the head is more obtusely rounded in front, and the sides of the segments are more distinctlv mamillated. The cuticle is sleek and shining. It is white, with the alimentary canal nearly colourless or watery, and the contents of the body on each side of it white and granular. It remains much longer in the larval state than the other species, and hence is much more 166 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

difficult to rear. It eats voraciously for a few days, and then remains quiet without appearing to eat at all for several days. inhabits the A larva precisely like it, but in a different blotch mine, leaves of the Black Oak ( Q. i/icifo/ia?). the Another like it, but with the mine a little different from last, inhabits oaks of the Willow Oak group. Another still inhabits leaves of the Beech (Fagus ferruginca).

Still another in the leaves of the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharinum).

Another (two others?) similar but different, mines the leaves of different species of Desmodium.

I have never known one of them to enter the pupal state, though I have kept them nearly two months in the larval state, in which condition they still remain alive in the dead leaves, as if they would hybernate as larvae. The Black Oak species and that of the Desmodium construct in little circular depressed cocoons like those of L. coiyliella, &c, which the larvae are reposing. (The Desmodium larvae are distinct from the others, and may possibly produce a Leucanthiza or some other allied genus). I think there can be but one brood in a year, and that larvae found in July continue to be larvae until the next spring.

I have met also with the following larvae of the second (flat) group and mining the upper surface of the leaves. Possibly some of them may prove to be the same with species already described, but I scarcely expect it. Most, if not all, are new species. One mines the leaves of the Chestnut ( Casianca).

Two species, if not three, mine those of oaks of the Willow Oak group. One mines those of the Water Beech ( Carpinus Americana), and also of the Hornbeam or Ironwood (Ostrya Virginica).

Of the first (cylindrical) group there is the species (perhaps two species) mining leaves of the (Helianthus) Wild Sun Flower.

A species which may prove to be L. crataegella mining leaves of the Wild Red Plum (Primus Americana).

And a species which is probably L. basistrige/la, mining the leaves of

Black Oaks (Q. i/icifo/ia, &c.) The mine and cocoon are the same, with those of L. basistrigella on the White and Chestnut Oaks.

Also a mine on the upper surface of Haw leaves (Crataegus) which seems to be identical with that of L. virginiella on the Ostrya virginica. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 167

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW ARCTIA FROM COLORADO.

BY CHAS. R. DODGE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

n. — Arctia Williamsii, s/>. (See fig. 34). Anterior wings rich chocolate - brown with creamy white stripes or markings. Costal margin lighter brown. A broad line running from the base of the median vein to the FIG o-ij4 _ nearly posterior where it becomes forked from this a angle, slightly ; proceeds slightly curved narrower branch, from the centre of the wing nearly to the costal edge, and one-third the distance from the apex : a zigzag mark composed of three straight lines, the first being the broadest, and the third one-half the length of the others, proceeds from the outer angle, where it joins the first line, and terminates under the costal edge; the whole forming a distinct W crossed at the top by the transverse band. Inner edge faintly marked with creamy white.

Posterior wings dull red, marked with dark brown spot-. Inner edge costa and outer with a dark formed confluent yellowish ; edge border, by spots, narrowest at the middle third, the spot at the posterior angle more and in a prominent, triangular shape ; large heart-shaped spot occupies the centre of the outer third of the wing, nearly touching the outer edge, and is surrounded by four smaller spots, the one near the inner margin wedge-shaped and extending to the base of the wing. Fringes dirty yellow. Alar, expanse 1-15 inch. Antennas brown. Head creamy white above, brownish around the Thorax brown with lateral lines of white shoulder eyes. creamy ; tippets with colour. beneath uniform brown edged same Body light ; above, darker, with two broad red lateral stripes which become yellowish at the tip. Habitat. —Colorado Territory.

This beautiful little species is dedicated to Mr. Henry T. Williams, of " the Horticulturist," to whom I am indebted, more than to any other person, for my summer's ramble through the Rocky Mountains.

The accompanying figure, though not quite correct in detail, will give an idea of the markings by which this moth is characterized. On the anterior wing, the upper fork of the line running from the base, is too heavy, and too long, giving the appearance of four zig-zag marks when there are but three, while the spots on the hind wings, though correctly placed, are not in every instance exactly of the right shape. 168 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

ON A NEW GRASSHOPPER FROM COLORADO.

BY C. THOMAS, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Caloptcnus Dodgei. Nov. sp. Posterior femora with three white bands not more than half ; elytra the length of the abdomen. Male. Small size. Vortex channelled frontal elongate, distinctly ; costa broad, flat and squarely margined above the ocellus, margin punctured ; antennas thick, passing the thorax, joints short, distinct, and somewhat obconic. Transverse incisions of the distinct pronotum ; posterior lateral incurved at the humerus median carina margins very slightly ; distinct only on the anterior and posterior lobes. Elytra about half the length of the abdomen, oblong-ovate. Posterior femora about as long as the abdomen. Prosternal point thick, obtuse, transverse. Cerci slender; sub-anal plate somewhat pointed, the margin on the upper surface entire. Colour. Brown varied with white. Face cinereous, occiput and disk of the pronotum dark brown, mottled with lighter and darker shades, except the posterior lobe, which is uniform, brown. Elytra brown, lower half dark on each side of the and behind the very ; head pronotum, eye, is a dark brown glabrous spot, not extending further back than the third incision. A white oblique spot above the posterior coxae. Posterior femora with three white bands on the outside, the one nearest the apex much the smallest, the middle dark band abruptly bent forward at the middle of the disk. Abdomen pale, mottled with reddish-brown. Four anterior tibiae pale reddish-brown. Antennae pale at base, the rest rufous. Female. Pronotum uniform dark brown, except the spot on the side, and that the posterior lobe is a bright reddish-brown. Elytra extend over but two segments. Abdomen brown.

Dimensions. £ Length .85 in.; elytra .2; posterior femora .4; posterior tibiae .32. £ Length .56 in.; elytra .18: posterior femora .37; posterior tibiae -26. Pike's Peak, Colorado Territory. Named in honor of Mr. Charles _R. Dodge of the Agricultural De- partment, Washington, who recently discovered it during nn ascent of Pike's Peak.

It is important in one respect, showing the effect of altitude (about 10,000 feet above the level of the sea) on the antennae, contracting their but also the mere length, compensating by thickening ; rendering joints distinct. It approaches Pczolettix in two respects, the shortness of the wings, and the slope of the posterior lateral margins of the pronotum. c THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 b J

NEW ENEMIES OF THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.

BY I'.. I'.. REED, LONDON, <>NT.

MVSIA 15 PUNCTATA, Olti.

Sometime during the latter part of July last, while wandering about the caused outskirts of a large potato patch, and examining the damage by the Colorado beetle. T found on the vines the larva of a beetle belonging to the family of Coctinellida or Lady Birds. The insect was new to me. and although there were no larvae of the Colorado beetle in the immediate

1 a of our vicinity, yet I was in hope that had discovered new enemy abominable pest. To test the question more at leisure, 1 took my newly- found treasure home, and placed it in a box. wherein were numerous specimens of Colorado larvae in all stages, from the diabolical looking little monster just hatched from the egg.to the full-grown. fat, and repulsive larva dragging its bloated body slowly about in search of some convenient place to undergo the transformation into the pupal state. The box was

I of roomy and covered with a glass top, so that had ample opportunities observing what took place. After a little preliminary tour of inspection, my Lady Bird friend caught sight of a small Colorado, and immediate!) made a bee line for it, and commenced a fierce attack upon the unhappy little victim, seizing it in the powerful jaws, with which Dame Nature has provided most of these creatures, and in the course of a very fewr minutes sucking the juices completely out, and leaving only the dry and blackened looking skin as a ghastly monument of its victory. It then commenced its attacks, after a short interval, on a full-grown specimen, which, however, had strong objections to be eaten all-alive-oh, and struggled viciously with its enemy, which was not nearly so large, although of course much more active. Its efforts at resistance were vain, and after Mr. Lady Bird had got its jaws firmly fixed in its victim's broad and capacious back, the struggles soon ceased, and it became a question of the capacity of the Lady Bird larva, to contain all the juices that were in the body of its cor- pulent victim. Nearly an hour was occupied in this little operation, and when it was over, our friend retired to rest on its laurels and digest its enormous meal at its leisure.

For several days 1 watched at different times a repetition of the same thing, and the Lady Bird must have consumed some eight or nine Colorado larvae. I regret that I neglected to make any description of 170 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the larva; and, being called away from home just at this time, I found on my return that the larva had gone into chrysalis, and in a few days afterwards, the perfect beetle emerged, and proved to be a very light-coloured specimen of Mysia 15 punctata Oliv. (Fig. 35). This beetle, as may be seen from the engraving, varies very much in its perfect form, so

much so, indeed, that a careless or unskilled observer would never imagine that these four insects belonged to one and the same species.

PERILLUS CIRCUMCINCTUS, Say.

This insect (Fig. 36) belongs to the Heteroptera Hemiptera, or true Bug family. It was brought to

"b me a who had detected it in the act of QX^ /jBr/Y by friend, killing a Colorado Beetle larva, by piercing the soft body of the larva with its long rostrum or beak. CC* FIG 36. I placed this insect also in my glass-covered box, and watched its operations, and mode of attack. It moved very quietly, and attacked the larva with a sudden dart of its sharp-pointed beak. The larva, of course, struggled with all its power, yet it never seemed at all to loosen the hold of the bug, which rather astonished me,

for I am at a loss to see what enables the beak to be retained so firmly ;

for, as far as I can ascertain, the beak is tolerably smooth, and easy of the withdrawal if the bug is willing. Yet, when I attempted to take larva off the beak, I had to use some slight degree of force. The bug, moreover, has a curious fashion of planting himself squarely and firmly on his feet, with the beak raised nearly horizontal, and the victim poised, or spitted on it, and writhing about quite clear of the ground.

I had the curiosity to weigh the bug, and also a larva which I saw it attacking, and the larva was very nearly as heavy as the bug, and yet it seemed no exertion to the bug to raise its victim on the point of its beak, and hold it suspended there while it sucked out the contents of the body. Whether the close confinement of the box was not calculated to pro- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 171

mote its general health, or whether the diet of Colorado larvae was too I do not know but after about half a dozen overpowering, ; eating larvae, my bug seemed to lose his appetite. So I at once killed him, and sent him for identification to Mr. Rilev, who named it for me. Both the drawings of these two new insect friends are from the clever pencil of Mr. Riley, who kindly permitted me to obtain electrotypes of them.

I shall be glad to hear from any of the members of the Society residing in Ontario, whether the Colorado beetle has done much damage in their neighbourhood. In many places, I am aware, some mischief has been caused, but the potato crop generally seems to have been an unusually good one, even in those districts where the beetle was prevalent.

I would also ask the members to keep a sharp look out for any parasites or other enemies which they may discover attacking the Colorado larvae. We know already of sixteen, and we hope that the number may largely increase. Any communications on this subject will be gladly received.

CHICAGO FIRE—APPEAL TO ENTOMOLOGISTS.

Mr. J. Q. A. Warren, of England, recently residing temporarily in " Chicago, writes to us from St. Paul's, Minn., as follows : — Having lost my entire collection, by the fire in Chicago, of Entomological and other Natural History specimens, the work of the past year in the West, as well as of years abroad, I beg to solicit correspondence and specimens from American. Entomologists for a new collection, for which I will send Euro- pean duplicates as soon as I reach Europe,. My loss is heavy, over $3000, and the patient labour of months.

''Help me all you can, and I will appreciate it fully, and do all I can in return. Address me at New York after Nov. 1st., care of Adams' Ex- press Company, for parcels, and by mail to New York post office."

Mr. Warren, we understand, had a very large collection in Chicago, which he was intending to take back to England this winter, but it was in the fire. far as entirely consumed great He is anxious to replace it, as possible, before his return, which will be in December. We trust that all our readers, who have it in their power, will assist Mr. Warren with specimens, and enable him to take back a goodly representation of the Insect life of this countrv. I 72 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirbys Fauna Boreali-Americatia : Tnsecta. (Continued from page 15G.) — [104]. 148. Oiceoptoma [Silpha] Canadense Kirby. Length of body 7 lines. Taken in dead fish on the shores of Lake Huron in Canada, by Dr. Bigsby. This species approaches near to O. Amerkanum, but it is smaller, the frontal impression is deeper and oblong : the discoidal spot of the prothorax is much larger, extending from the anterior to the posterior margin, it is scarcely at all lobed, and only the punctures of its posterior part exhibit the appearance of angular scratches : the elytra are dirty- yellow at the apex, and the yellow occupies a much greater portion of the extremity than in the two preceding species, they are not acuminate in at the tip, but have a very slight tendency to a sinus ; the epipleura colour resembles that of O. Americanum^ but is less brilliant. [Also a of S. lata variety pel ?\ FAMILY TROGOS1TID.-E

149. Peltis ferruginea Linn*- Length of body 5 lines. A single specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house. The insects of this genus are usually to be met with under the bark of trees, and in fungi.

[105.] Body oblong, flat, ferruginous, resembling greatly, as I)e Geer has observed, the common bed-bug. Head thickly punctured : prothorav deeply emarginate for the reception of the head, thickly punctured : lateral margin sloping, refiexed : disl^ of the elytra with six elevated ridges gradually diminishing in length from the suture outwards : between the ridges is a double row of punctures, each pair of punctures being connected a transverse furrow outside the discoidal are several by ; ridges

rows of lateral refiexed : linear at irregular punctures ; margin epipleura the apex, gradually dilated at the base. [Taken in Canada.] FAMILY MTlDr L1D.E.

— of 2 2 1 lines. 150. Nitidula OBSCURA Fabr. Length body ^ .; s Several specimens taken in Lat. 65 . Body subdepressed. black, with its lustre obscured by inconspicuous decumbent subcinereous hairs. Head minutely punctured, transversely between the eves elevated mouth and stalk of the impressed ; occiput ; THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 173

at the antennae piceous : prothorax minutely punctured, most visibly are lateral reflexed obtuse sides, which depressed*; margin ; elytra very at the apex, they have the appearance of being acuducted which seems

to be produced by the pubescence : legs piceous or rufo-piceous.

' 1 [106.J 151. NlTlDULA OSSIUM Kirby. Length of body •_> --1^4 lines. Several specimens taken in Lat. 65°.

Mr. Stephens regards this as a variety only of the preceding species. but it is smaller, narrower in proportion, the legs and stalk of the antennae are paler, and the elytra and sides of the prothorax, in the British as well as American specimens, are piceous. In other respects they agree.

r 52. Nitidula DISCOIDEA /w/v.- Length of body 1^3 lines. Many specimens taken in Lat. 65°, Considerably smaller than the British specimens. Body subdepressed, black, above minutely punctured, subpaibescent. Stalk of the antennae ; sides of the prothorax, which has posteriorly a pair of discoidal obsolete

impressions, legs and anus, rufous : elytra with a large anterior discoidal suborbicular pale-rufous spot common to both, in which, in some speck. mens, is a black dot : apex of the elytra obscurely variegated with rufous. Fabricus, and after him Mr. Marsham, describes the legs of this species as

black : but others have properly denominated them by the term ferruginous and piceous. In the American specimens they vary in colour from piceous to pale-rufous. Ips — [107.] 153. De Jeanii Kirby. Plate ii., tig. 4.- Length of body

l 2 4 lines. Three specimens taken in Lat. 65°.

Body linear, depressed, thickly and minutely punctured, glossy, black or dark piceous. Head with a punctiform impression in the vertex, and a

larger impression on each side between the eyes : prothorax quadrangular,

rather narrowest behind : elytra piceous or ruto-piceous, with two oblong white spots at the base, forming an interrupted line, and two oblique

nearly parallel ones below the middle : legs piceous. In the other sex the elytra are subacuminate. Variety B. With five white spots, viz.: r, 2, 2.

in Canada ; and north shore of Lake [Taken Superior (Agassiz).]— [108.] 154. Choleva, (Catops) Spenciana Kirby. Length of body 2 lines. A single specimen taken. Locality not stated. Body black, covered with decumbent pale hairs. Head minutely

punctured : antennae shorter than the prothorax, the two first joints

ferruginous, the eighth shorter and smaller than the rest : mouth and not with all the palpi ferruginous ; prothorax visibly punctured angles i74 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

rounded ; base with a slight sinus on each side : elytra acute, very minutely punctured with a hair emerging from each puncture, without furrows except a single one parallel with the suture, ferruginous, black at the tip : abdomen piceous, rufous at the base : legs ferruginous. [Belongs to the family S///>// iWce.] SCAPHIDIIDJE. [109. J FAMILY

— 1. — 155. Scarhium castanipes Kirby. Plate v., rig. Length of body 3 lines. A single specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house.

Body naked, glossy ; underneath smooth, black, with a very light shade of bronze ; above more evidently bronzed, punctured. Mouth, palpi, and antennae pale chestnut : prothorax behind, on each side, marked with a pair of punctiform impressions, between these impressions are several large punctures, but not in a regular transverse series as in Scaphidium : elytra with six discoidal rows of punctures : the four rows nearest the suture reach the base, but not the apex, and the two external ones neither base nor first apex ; the row also terminates towards the base in three large distinct punctures, and from the base of the third runs a transverse row, as in Scaphidium, to the sutural furrow, which is impunctured : the legs are pale chestnut.

[iIO.] FAM 1 L V A X I SOTOM J D.K. 156. Leiodes puncto-STRIATUS Kirby. — Length of body 1 line. A single specimen taken in Lat. 65°.

Body hemispherico-ovate, naked, gloss}", chestnut. Head very lightly

; mandibles rather and antennae clava punctured prominent ; palpi rufous, of the latter much incrassated consisting of five joints, the second of which is extremely minute : prothorax very large, wider than long, very lightly punctured, with the sides paler than the disk : elytra deeply and grossly punctured in rows, interstices impunctured : legs and under-side of the prothorax rufous : anus paler than the rest of the abdomen. This species closely resembles the Anisotoma badia of Sturm, but the elytra are not finely punctured, as Mr. Stephens describes them in that species.

FAMILY SYLVAN ID.-E [laTHRIDIID-'E.]

157. Corticaria denticulata Kirby. —Length of body 1 line. A single specimen taken in Lat. 65 . [in.] Body dark piceous, rather glossy, naked, minutely punctured. Prothorax rather orbicular, with a circular deepish impression just above the scutellum : with several rows of ; sides distinctly denticulated elytra THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I 7.")

punctures. The insect here described approaches very near to C. impressa Marsham, but it is sufficiently distinguished not only by its colour but chiefly by the very visibly denticulated sides of its prothorax. [As the specific name of this insect is preoccupied, it has been named C. Kirbyi by Dr. Le Conte. Taken by Agassiz's Expedition on the north shore of Lake Superior.] FAMILY CRYPTOPHAGID.E.

12. aria atra — of 2 lines. One [i j 158. Atom Stephens. Length body /z specimen only taken.

Body black, punctured, glossy. Mouth reddish ; antennae rufous :

elytra pubescent, piceous, rufous at the tip : anus and legs rufous. 159. Crvptophagus humeralis Kirby. —Length of body r^ line.

Several specimens taken in Lat. 54 . black above and rather Body subcylindrical, ; punctured pubescent, glossy. Prothorax rather widest behind, with the basilar angles somewhat

depressed : scutellum transverse, obtusangular : shoulders of the elytra

obscurely rufous : legs, especially the tibiae and tarsi, pale chestnut.

l 160. Crvptophagus concolor Kirby. — Length of body body 1 /2 line. A single specimen taken in Lat 54 .

[113]. In shape, sculpture and pubescence this species resembles the preceding, but it is smaller, and the whole insect is entirely of one colour —dark ferruginous. N. B. —The two species last described differ from the other Crypto- phagi in having the thorax without serratures or denticles, and the scutellum obtusangular, and may perhaps form a subgenus. FAMILY DERM KSTID/E.

161. of Attagenus cvlindricus Kirby. Plate vii., fig. 3.- Length body 2 lines. Two specimens taken in the Rocky Mountains.

This little species has much the air of a CryptopJiagus, but belongs to the present genus. The body is subcylindrical, dark-piceous, very minutely punctured, and covered, but not thickly, with decumbent cinereous hairs.

The two first joints of the antennae are large, globular, and of the same colour with the rest of the the intermediate ones minute and body ; very pale rufous; the three last are incrassated and form an oblong piceous knob, of which the terminal joint is as long as the two preceding ones,

ovate and acute : the prothorax behind is very obsoletely trilobed with

the intermediate lobe rounded : the tarsi are rufous. (Unknown to Dr. Le Conte.] 1 7 6 T HE ( ) ANA DI A N EN T< )M OLOG I ST.

[114.] 162. Attagenus pellio Z-w/z.- -Length of body 2^ lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. 'This species, though particularly destructive to furs, is to be met with in other animal matters, and is very common in houses. De Oeer describes its larva as having a very long bod}- covered with a hard, shining skin of a reddish-brown colour and as six and the hairy ; having legs, posterior extremity terminated by a long remarkable tail, formed of rufous hairs as long as the body, and placed horizontally in the same line. He says that their motion is gliding, but by snatches. The American specimen, which is a male, is considerably larger than

ni}- British ones and blacker : but in other respects it precisely resembles them. The species may generally be known by its black or dark-piceous colour, covered, especially underneath, with decumbent whitish or cinereous hairs. The stalk of -the antennae, and the tarsi, are testaceous, and the last joint of the former, in the male, is longer than the two first and

cylindrical : the prothorax at the three posterior angles has three white spots formed of hairs, and the elvtra are in the middle near the suture. [Taken in Canada]. [115.] 163. Dermestes lardarius Linn. --Taken in Nova Scotia by

Hall in Massachusetts Mr. Drake. I -atreille observes that Capt. ; by this insect is found in every quarter of the old world. [We may add. in the new as well. It is a great pest to collectors in Canada.] 164. Dermestes dissector Kirby. — Length of body 3^3 lines. Taken by Dr. Bigsby in Canada. [Apparently identical with Say's D.

i. at all. from nubilus (Ent. Works, p. 300), which differs little, if D. caninus Germ. Not uncommon in Canada.] [116.] 165. Byrrhus PICIPES Kirby.- Length of body 3* lines.

A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 . Body black, covered with short decumbent hairs. Scutellum velvetty-

black : elytra with a pair of deep black interrupted stripes terminating in

a transverse abbreviated posterior band of the same colour : legs piceous. [As this specific name is preoccupied, Le Conte has named the species B. Kirby i. It is taken in Canada from Quebec to the north shore of Lake Superior]. [117.] 166. Bvrrhus concolor Kirby. — Length of body 3 lines.

Two specimens taken in Lat. 54°.

This nearly resembles B. picipes, but it is much smaller, the prothorax is more distinctly channelled, the elytra have no black band, and the legs are black. [Supposed by Le Conte to be a variety of Cytilus varius Fab.] THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 17

THE LATE MR. RITCHIE.

The late Mr. A. vS. Ritchie, whose loss we have so much reason to deplore, was born at Pettenween, a small town on the coast of Fifeshire. His father, Mr. Robert Ritchie, was a magistrate of that place. Ac- companied by his cousin, Mr. David Ritchie, who now resides in Brant- ford, Ont, he left Scotland for Canada, in 1853. He remained in Montreal one year, during which time he was in the employ of Messrs. Morrison, Cameron & Kmpey. He then removed to Brantford, where he resided several years, and where he appears to have been very highly respected. Finally, he returned to Montreal in r86o or 1861, where he remained until the time of his death. In the month of May, 1864, he was elected a member of this Society, and from May, 1866, to the present year, he was, as many here well know, an active member of the Council, of which, in t 867 and the present year, lie was unanimously elected chair- man. He was also a member of the editing committee of the Canadian

Naturalist. During the six years of his connection with this Society, he brought before us seven papers, six of which are printed in the Naturalist. The following are the titles of the papers, and the dates at which thev were read : —

March, 1865. On the structure of insects, illustrated by microscopical preparations. " " March, 1866. —On the Walking Stick insect, Spectrum femoratum. 1868. —On the Beetles of the Island of Montreal. Nov., — Oct.. 1869. On the White Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapce. Feb., 1870.- Why are insects attracted to Artificial lights? April, 1870. —Aquaria Studies, No. 1. Oct., 1870. —Aqu. Stu., No. 2.

His favourite study was Entomology, and this he pursued in a philo- sophic spirit, studying the habits of insects in their native haunts by day, and examining the details of their anatomy under the microscope at night. He was also well acquainted with other departments of Zoology, especially with the infusoria. A little before his decease he was preparing a lecture. " On the Inhabitants of a drop of water." for the young men connected with Erskine Church, and for this Society, a paper on a curious ichneumon parasite of the white cabbage butterfly. He died on the 13th De- cember, 1870, at the early age of 34. Rev. A. De Sola, LL.D., spoke of Mr. Ritchie, as a most enthusiastic member who had devoted all his spare time to the study of science, which it would be to the advantage of business men to cultivate, and he trusted that many others would follow his example. —Canadian Naturalist. 178 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Polyhistor ?— In the September number of the Canadian Ento- mologist, the State Entomologist of Missouri, who is a stranger to me, " — asserts that there is something rather incoherent in my articles that I have committed serious errors," and, furthermore, tryit I "must not talk of the family of Hymenoptera." When 1 write for the Entomologist, it is not with the intention of leading others astray, or of committing error; and after all consideration, I doubt if my significations would be looked upon as incongruous by the majority of my Entomological colleagues. I have " no knowledge of Mr. Riley's definition of family," and I care not to which of the theories he may have a leaning. I hold my own, and have a perfect right to talk of the Family of Hymenoptera. In following up this cause, perhaps this Naturalist would have the kindness to correct me with more distinctness, when next he publishes strictures upon my Entomological Notes, and state, for general information, how many families of Hymenoptera exist on this continent.

I am told that 1 ''ought to know that curculionidous larvae do not spin " silken cocoons,'' and furthermore, that T carelessly overlooked the legs" of the larva which I described on page 65, because it happens that inqui-

1 incus Lepidopterous larvae take possession of acorns after they have fallen from the tree. On the 31st of March, the larvae were of two kinds, and three sizes were found in the acorns of the White Oak in this latitude, and I am not astray in stating that a larva of an unknown Coleopterous insect did spin a cocoon within an acorn.

In the October number of the Entomologist, Mr. Riley expresses his sorrow for having rashly and inconsistently contradicted a matter with which he was not thoroughly acquainted. Having no knowledge of the existence in this country of a silk-spinning snout-beetle, and, as every Entomologist ought to be conscientious, he thought he should be, even at the ninth hour, and discovers good European authority stating that snout-

beetles do spin silken cocoons, or at least, close their nidus with some substance resembling silk. In the September number of the Entomolo- gist, p. 118, he tells us that the acorn weevil is Balaninus rectus Say, and that it is found in the acorns of one of the oaks in his State. Fortunately, at this juncture, Mr. Pettit, of Grimsby, comes to my aid, and throws additional light on this important inquiry, by the discovery of Balaninus THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 17J)

nasicus Say, in the Red oak, and when we search more thoroughly, I have no doubt but additional species will be found attacking acorns produced by other oaks, therefore there are no species that we can define as "the acorn weevil." The remarks made by Mr. Riley, at p. 137, No. 7 Canadian

the of are for I Entomologist, regarding descriptions Say, gratuitous ; have studied and compared his descriptions, and found them very accurate.

Mr. Riley appears to rely greatly on the form and color of the rostrum, as specific distinctions of Curculionida, but I have no faith in such forms alone, but, as in other Coleoptera, must look for those distinctions in the permanency of parts and marks on the body. Mr.

Riley refers me to the 3rd Missouri Ent. Report, where, he says, I will " find that we do know something of the habits of quite a number of our snout-beetles;*' and at page 138, number 7 Canadian Entomologist, " he says that we can do very little in classifying them until their habits and variations are better understood/' I have not had the pleasure of seeing the said Report, which may contain the descriptions of quite a number of Curculionidce, but it appears curious that in the two principal collections of Coleoptera in the United States, viz.: that of Dr. Le Conte, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Ulke, of Washington, the greater portion of snout-beetles were either undescribed or undetermined — at least, they were so, after Melsheimer's Catalogue was published, and I am aware that those in Dr. Le Conte's collection were not worked up in 1864, as in a tk letter from him in July of that year, he says : — I regret that my Curcu- lionidte have not been arranged for the past seven or eight years, and therefore, I am not at liberty to name the species, for fear of giving currency to error." In 1863, Dr. Le Conte issued a revision of the latter catalogue in conjunction with materials from his own collection, which is a standard for comparison, and it terminates with the JElateridce. Part II., of said List, will, no doubt, occupy years of hard work, ere it can be placed in the hands of Entomologists with a perfect list of the Curadionidcz of this I conclude that Mr. country ; therefore, may by surmising— Riley has only a vague knowledge of our Northern species.- Wm. Couper.

New Butterflies at Quebec. —The season of 187 1 has been marked by the capture, at Quebec, of three butterflies new to the locality, viz. : aster taken at Lorette at the Island of Papilla ias, ; Polyommatus porsenna, — Orleans, and an unidentified species of Melitcea at the latter place. G. j. Bowles, Quebec. 80 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c.

The undersigned would be pleased to open communications with any Entomologist in Canada, United States or England with a view to ex- changing specimens. Address James Colwell, care of A. Choun, Kingston, Ont

Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds" Eggs, Lepidoptera

some from and of which I (including Florida) Coleoptora, duplicates — should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass.

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera. would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world.— Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street. Boston. Mass. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Cork and Pins.—We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot: and a full supply of

Klaegers pins, Nos. 1, 2. 5 and 6. price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500.

Canadian Entomologist. Vols. 1 and 2.—We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each.

List oe Canadian Coleopteka.— Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, r to 2000. for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will >lease state whether the is to be sent mail or ] package by express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont; W. Couper. Naturalist, Montreal.

P.Q.; G. J. Bowles. Quebec. P. Q. : J. Johnston. Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States. —The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.:

V. : A'. No. J. Green, Newport, Vt. W. Andrews. Room t;. 137 Broadway, New York, %\t dtanabisn Entomologist

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 187 1. No. 10

DESCRIPTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM ALABAMA.

BY AUG. R. GROTE, DEMOPOL1S, ALA.

Cataclysta Robinsonii Grote. $ °. I refer this species to Le- derers Section C. : veins 8 and 5 of the secondaries present. Primaries bright golden brown. The median whitish grey space is tolerably narrow white and well defined ; inwardly bounded by the outwardly arcuate line transverse anterior line ; outwardly by the white transverse posterior which is angulated on the m. nervules. Both the lines are a little uneven. From the distinct and regularly arcuate white transverse anterior line to the base of the wing, the surface is entirely golden brown. On the gray median space there is a blackish stain at the extremity of the discal cell, preceded and defined inwardly by a C-shaped white shade line. Outside the transverse posterior line, the wing is terminally dark golden brown, but becomes dark greyish over the median nervules opposite the angula- the internal tion of the line ; the brown colour obtaining again, over angle. A distinct white sub-apical rounded line (following the shape of the external margin, and allowing, at the apex, the brown scales to appear is discontinued. dark beyond it), shortly Fringes grey. Secondaries pale, powdered with black scales, and these are aggregated in a little cluster before the internal margin. Before the external margin the wing is lin- early free from the dark scales, and beyond, on the margin, lies a double series of velvety-black dots, between which, and alternating with them, is a row of brilliant scales, the whole not very conspicuous. Beneath, the an hind wings are paler, with incomplete median band ; the marginal series of black and scintellate dots is repeated, but the black dots are

single. The fore wings are dark greyish beneath, the two median lines dark, and not very distinct, the median space, posteriorly, is stained with blackish, and the white semi-circular mark of the upper surface is dis-

tinctly repeated. Apically, the wing is shaded with brown, and here the terminal white line is distinctly repeated. Exp. 18-19 m. m. Coll. Pea- body Academy of Science, & C. T. Robinson. I took a pair of this pretty species in July near Demopolis. Erratum.—The top line on page 126 of this volume should be placed in the same position on page 125. 182 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MICRO- LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KY

Continued from Pa.ru 166.

LITHOCOLLETIS.

The following species, which have been described by Drs. Clemens, Packard and Fitch, I have not met with. But for the convenience of those who may not have access to the writings of these gentlemen, I condense the following account :

i. It L. Arge?itifimbriella Clem, has been already mentioned at p. 57. mines the under surface of leaves of the Chestnut Oak, and must resemble L, caryae-albella or L. lucidicostella. At /. 57, ante, it is suggested that L. querci-albella Fitch may be the same insect. Dr. Fitch states that it mines the leaves of the White Oak; and other species of the genus mine both the leaves of the White and Chestnut Oaks indifferently. But Dr. Clemens says that Argentifimbriella makes a tent mine on the under side, has a cylindrical larva, and pupates suspended in a thin web in the mine like L. lucidicostella. Dr. Fitch describes the larva of his querci-albella as being flat, mining the underside (which no known flat LitJwcolletis larva does except L. oruaielta. which makes a flat mine), and as making a tent mine (as I understand Dr. Fitch's description), which no known flat larva of the genus does. He also states that it pupates in an oval cocoon (like that of L. basistrigella, as I understand his description), and no known flat larva makes such a cocoon.

L. basistrigella Clem, makes just such a mine and cocoon as Dr. Fitch describes, and in the same kind of leaves, but the larva is cylindrical, and the imago is not at all like Dr. Fitchs description of his querci-albella. Again no known flat larva produces an imago at all akin to the group to which querci-albella belongs, according to Dr. Fitch's description. All flat larvae known—at least in this country—produce imagines of some shade of yellow (Sec. J3.. ante), except Hamadryadella, which is of a very distinct group from Lucidicostella, Sec., to which querci-albella would belong, as described by Dr. Fitch. He also says that it resembles the European L. clerckella, but L. elerekella is not now recognised as a Lithocolletis at all, but is known as Cuniostonnr scitella. It seems to me, therefore, that we must await the rediscovery of the species before we can assign it a place among the American species of Lithocolletis. THE CANADIAN" ENTOMOLOGIST, 1S3

Argyromiges Morrisella Fitch, and A. Uhlerella I consider, as already stated, to be only varieties or worn specimens of Lithocolleiis robiniella Clem., a variety of which, as Dr. Clemens states, mines the leaves of a species of Lespedeza.

sec. 2. Argyromiges ('Lithocolleiis) Ostensackenella Fitch (Rep. j, JJJ), must is no doubt a good species, and from Dr. Fitch's description, resemble L. ambrosiceella, ante. Larval history unknown. Fitch. 3. L. Fitchella Clem. Argyromiges quercifoliella Pale saffron costal and 2 dorsal streaks and an but no ; 5 apical spot, basal streak. Head and thorax white. It seems to resemble L. argentinotella in the arrangement of the costal and dorsal streaks, and it mines the upper surface of White Oak leaves. Larva cylindrical. but At p. 54, ante, it is stated that Dr. Fitch has described 7 species; there was an error in the count. The true number is 6, and that includes' and his Anacampsis robiniella, Argyromiges querci-albella, A. Uhlerella. A. Aforrisella, none of which can be considered good species. There only remains, therefore, his L. Ostensaekenella and L. Fitchella. leaves. 4. L. aeriferella (Hem. Larva cylindrical, and mines Oak Imago reddish-saffron with 4 costal and 3 dorsal streaks, an apical spot but no basal streak. The first thin costal and the first dorsal sreak inter- a line curved nally dark-margined : the second dorsal dark-mar.oined by above. a tent mine on 5. L. obstrictella Clem. Larva cylindrical, and makes the under side of Oak leaves. Reddish orange with three silvery fascia: dark-margined externally. An apical spot, but no basal streak. de- 6. L. tubiferella Clem. The larva and mine have been already scribed. It mines the upper surface of Oak leaves. It is pale saffron white fascia: both dark- no with slightly oblique -margined externally ; apical spot, nor basal streak.

The following species are named and described by Dr. Packard {Guide his p. 353), and I am unacquainted with these except from descriptions, but which are necessarily brief. He gives no account of their structure, habits of the larvae and all of the three species, differ so widely in the pupae and in the ornamentation of the imagines, as to suggest great doubts whether there are not correlated structural differences which separate them from Lithocolleiis pupa:.

is said to be dark slate without 7. L. geminatella Packard, gray pro- the dorsal minent markings, but with a round black 'spot on the middle of 184 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

a ocellus. larva is margin (like Bucculatrix ?), and an apical The pale livid reddish (unlike any known Lithocollctis larva, but not unlike some

Gracillarice). It feeds on leaves of Apple and Pear trees between two leaves, or in a fold of a leaf. (This is very unlike a L/thocolletis.) 8. L. curvilineatdla Packard. This larva is unknown. The pupa was found in a long slender cocoon, attached to the bark of an apple tree. (This is like a Bucculatrix, but not like a Lithocollctis). The imago is pale whitish with yellowish scales, with an apical ocellus in the wings, and a roundish spot on the middle of the dorsal margin. (Like a Bucculatrix).

.9. L. nidificansella Pack, is said to be silvery white with an apical ocellus ; three oblique golden costal streaks, and spotted with gold below the costa. The pupa is suspended in a thin web. outside of the leaf between its edges, which are drawn towards each other. This is very different from the habit of a Lithocollctis pupa.

The two species of Dr. Fitch, these three (?) of Dr. Packard, the seven- teen species of Dr. Clemens, and the fifteen species which I have de- cribed in these papers, make the total number of described American species of Lithocollctis up to this time, thirty-seven. to L. trit(?ucaudla, ante p. no, is scarcely sufficiently characterized distinguish it from the European L. trifasciclla as described and figured by Stainton, Nat. His. Tin. v. 2. As compared with Stainton's figure, this species is more golden, the fasciae are straighter, with much narrower dark margins, and in this species the only dark dusting is a small spot at the In apex. Still, if there is much variation, this may be the same species. so Trans. Loud. Ent. Soc, Sec. 2, 7'. 2, is a figure of trifasciclla not nearly well executed as Stainton's, but more nearly resembling this species. It, however, has a dorso-apical patch of dusting, which is wanting in this species. " What do Mr. Stainton, Dr. Clemens and others, mean by the spring brood" and "the fall brood,*' &c, of Lit/iocollctis and allied genera ? 1 confess I do not know. I know what it means when applied to some insects, because, as to such, there is "a time for all things'* —a time when they are found only in the larval state, a time when they are found only in the pupal state, and a time when only the imago can be found. Indeed this seems to be the case with most moths, even with the Micros. For as in instance, many (not all) species of Gracillaria are found moths, only at midsum- the fall, or in the spring and fall, and the larva only is found mer. But in the genera, Lithocollctis. Phyllocnistis, Tischeria. Cefniostoma, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I 8 D

and Parcctopa Clem, (which is a Graeittaria), which seem to me to be nearly related to each other, I have not yet found it so. For instance, take L. robinietta Clem. It hybernates beneath bark, and is found abroad on the wing, early in Spring, (so early that there are no flowers, and I cannot imagine what it lives on) and in Summer. But the mine and larva, are not found until the middle of July, (and then, and always, only in the older I have never in It leaflets ; found them young and tender leaflets). remains in the larval state, not exceeding three weeks, and in the pupal state not so long. Six weeks will cover the time from the hatching of the egg to the development of the imago, at which period many of the old brood still remain alive from that until the fall of the leaves in ; and time, Autumn, the insect may be found in all its stages, and in gradually increasing numbers in all. Many are still in the larval state, when the leaves fall, and doubtless perish. Others survive as pupae probably; as do other non-hybernating species. L. robinietta is the only Lithocottetis which I to know hybernate, though I suspect that Z. salieifoliella also does, from the fact that I have found it abroad late in October. Of the allied genera, all the species of Phyttocnistis known to me, winter over as imagines, except P. Uriodendronetta Clem., and, perhaps, that does also. All the others, so far as I know their habits, pass the winter as larvae or pupae. They begin to appear sometimes as early as March, usually in April, and towards the latter part of May they begin to oviposit. From the first to the middle of June, the first pupae are found, and, shortly afterwards, the first imagines, whilst their ancestors are still alive that until the fall yet ; and from time, of the leaves, they may be found in constantly increasing numbers, in all of their stages, and the different broods overlap, so that there is no line to be drawn between them. " " But, if the phrases spring brood/' summer brood," &x., only mean that there is a certain number of generations descended from a given pair in one season, then we can only arrive at the number of generations, by breeding them, or by guesses, founded on the length of time, passed in the larval and pupal states. I write about one degree south of Dr. Clemens, and I think it probable that there are as many as four here, and certainly not less than three and the number increases as I ; we go southward. have taken Z. Ulmella, or a closely allied species, at Columbus, Georgia, late in November—a month after it had disappeared here. And I have found Parectopa robinietta Clem, actively mining Locust leaves at New Orleans in December and if there is cessation of its at ; any broods there all, it can not exceed two months. 186 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

NOTES ON THE LARVA OF HALESIDOTA MACULATA, Harris. BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

Three specimens of this larva were taken Sept. 16th, feeding on Oak. in. Length, 1.30 ; cylindrical. Head large, slightly bilobed, black with a faint white streak down the front, as far as the middle, where it becomes forked, a branch going towards each of the palpi. Mandibles black, palpi white at base, tipped with black.

Body above black, thickly covered with tufts of bright yellow and black hairs. On the second, third and fourth segments, the hairs are and black those of the second and third over- mixed, yellow ; segments hanging the head. From the fourth to the eleventh segments inclusive, is

a dorsal row of black tufts, the largest of which are on the tenth and the fourth also a black tuft on each eleventh ; and eleventh segments have side, near the base. The hairs on the sides of the body, from the fifth to the tenth segments inclusive, are all bright yellow, while those on the sides of the twelfth and thirteenth, are mixed with black. On the third, fourth, eleventh and twelfth segments, are a few long, spreading, yellow hairs, much longer than those on the other portions of the body. The under surface, is a little paler in colour, especially between the feet black and with faint lines of a hue prolegs ; shining, paler ; prolegs pale yellow, faintly tipped with reddish brown. In a few days after their capture, these larvae entered the chrysalis state, within a yellowish grey oval cocoon, constructed of silk, interwoven with the hairs of the larva the insect on the of ; perfect appeared 4th June following.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirbys Fauna Borcall- Americana : Insccta. (Continued from page 176.)

167. Byrrhus cyclophorus Kirby. — Length of body 3^ lines. One specimen only taken. Body underneath and limbs dull ferruginous, above black with some cinereous hairs intermixed. Antennae piceous : elytra with two deep a black subinterrupted stripes, and inscribed in the middle with traces of THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187

circle formed of pale, or cinereous hairs, common to both. The circle is probably more distinct in recent specimens. [Taken at Grimsby, Ont, Mr. and at Toronto Mr. north shore of Lake by Pettit, by Couper ; Superior by Agassiz's Expedition.] [118.] 16S. Byrrhus varius Fabr. — Length of body 2^ lines. Several specimens taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland- House.

Body underneath black. Head and prothorax bronzed, the gloss obscured by glittering hairs, above the scutellum is a patch of golden

: ones scutellum channelled, covered with paler hairs : elytra slightly furrowed, bronzed, with the alternate interstices of the discoidal furrows green-bronzed, spotted with little velvetty patches of black hairs. [Be- to longs Cytilus ; not uncommon throughout Canada.] [H9.] FAMILY HYDROPHILID.E.

169. Hydrobius fuscipes Linn. —Length of body 3 lines. A single specimen taken in Lat. 65 . convex and rather vaulted Body oblong, ; underneath black, very minutely and thickly punctured with a pale short decumbent hair planted in each above puncture ; slightly bronzed, more conspicuously punctured, naked and rather glossy. Head slightly impressed on each side between the last : eyes ; palpi pale rufous, joint dusky at the tip antennae rufous with a black knob : sides of the prothorax with two or three groups of larger punctures : elytra furrowed with thickly punctured furrows, dusky rufous at the sides : legs dark rufous, base of the thighs black. This is smaller than my British specimens, the furrows of the elytra are rather and their deep, sides more conspicuously rufous. [Taken in Canada.] 2 [120.] 170. Hydrobius marginellus Fabr. —Length of body i /z line. Two specimens taken in Lat 54 . black above Body subelliptical, convex, minutely punctured, ; glossy.

and antennae rufous of the latter black : sides of the Palpi dusky ; knob and prothorax, the anterior margin dusky rufous : elytra with a single furrow the suture sides rufous : tarsi rufous. adjoining ; dusky 171. Hydrobius melanocephalus Oliv. —Length of body 2%— 2)^ lines. Two specimens taken in Lat. 54

[121.] Body subelliptical, minutely punctured; underneath black, somewhat hairy with very short inconspicuous hairs, above lurid or dirty yellow, glossy, more conspicuously punctured. Head black with a qua- before each nose from the drangular yellow spot eye ; gibbous separated 188 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

front a transverse line and antennae the by angular ; palpi dirty-yellow,

latter with a black knob : prothorax with a dark, discoidal, subquadran-

gular spot, which does not reach the anterior margin : shoulders with a

dusky line : tibiae and tarsi dusky rufous. Var. B. Larger, dusky rufous above, spots before the eyes larger and

subtriangular : black spot on the prothorax wider but not so near the anterior shoulders of the without a line. and margin ; elytra dusky [This the are of them are not preceding European species ; Kirby's descriptions sufficiently definite to enable them to be identified with any of the species described by Le Conte in his "Synopsis of the Hydrophilidce. of the United States."' (Pro. Acad. N. S., Philada., June, 1855).] FAMILY HISTERID.E. [123. J 172. Hister Paykulii Kirby. — Length of body 3^ lines. One specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house. Body black, glossy. Head circumscribed by a rather deeply ploughed

furrow antennae with a knob ; mandibles than the ; piceous pale longer

head : prothorax rather wider behind, seemingly quite smooth, but under a strong magnifier it appears thickly covered with very minute lightly

it is circumscribed all a impressed punctures ; on sides, by deepish furrow, between this furrow and the lateral margin is another abbreviated one less a distinct furrow discoidal impressed ; elytra besides marginal have three ones from the base to the between subpunctured running nearly apex ; the external discoidal furrow and the margin is a series of punctures near the apex, representing what is called the marginal furrow, and between the internal one and the suture are the traces of three others, the first just the to the the discernible, drawn, but interruptedly, from base apex ; second consisting of three or four punctures near the apex, and the third parallel with the suture, consisting also of punctures, sometimes confluent, and from the not half the of the the extending apex quite length elytrum ; surface of the elytra is covered with minute punctures very lightly im-

pressed, so as not to be discoverable except under a good magnifier : the cubit or anterior tibia is armed with three teeth, the last of which appears cleft from its being furnished at the apex with two short truncated trans-

parent bristles, the two other teeth have only one such bristle. [Synonymous with H. depurator Say (Ent. Works ii. 261), a species found in Canada, and taken by Agassiz's Expedition on the north shore of Lake Superior.] 173. Hister Harrisii Kirby.-—Length of body t>% lines. One specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 189

Body black, glossy, thickly punctured, the punctures on the upper- surface most Head circumscribed antennae and being conspicuous. ; of a colour mandibles than the head nose palpi nearly mahogany ; longer ; slightly impressed : prothorax with two furrows at the lateral margin, both nearly reaching the base, the inner one, as usual, when arrived at the anterior margin, with the corresponding one on the other side forming one furrow the on three sides above the scutellum surrounding prothorax ; just

is a punctiform impression : the elytra, including the submarginal one, have seven distinct furrows, the two next the suture being anteriorly abbreviated the first from the base of the and very short, especially ; first, or external discoidal one, an obsolete furrow runs obliquely towards the one the four discoidal entire furrows arrived near the submarginal ; when

apex of the elytra are bent towards the suture : cubit piceous, armed with five teeth, the three outer ones obtuse. [Taken at Grimsby, Ont., by Mr. Pettit.] — [125.] Lamellicornia. Family CopridjE [Scarab^eid^e.] 174. Onthophagus latebrosus Fabr. —Length of body, $ 3^ lines — A of the taken in the ; § 3 3^. single specimen £ journey

from New York to Cumberland-house ; a $ taken in New England by Prof. Peck.

The species of this little interesting genus, remarkable for the great variety of processes resembling horns, that arm the head of the males, are as as those of of beetles are to be found widely dispersed any genus ; they in every climate from the frigid to the torrid zone, nor do they increase in size as they recede from the former and enter the latter, for the most minute species are to be found in Southern India, where they abound, while the largest seem to inhabit temparate climates.

$ Body entirely black, except the hands or anterior tarsi, which are

rufous : gloss obscured by hairs. Nose at the apex bent upwards, form-

• ing a vertical, triangular, acute tooth on the vertex are two obsolete

transverse ridges : the prothorax is rough with little granules, and anter-

iorly sends forth a longish wide' horn truncated at the end and overhang-

ing the head : the two angles of the apex are elevated, and the space

between them is deflexed, and bidentate : the cubits are armed with four sharpish teeth. The female differs from the male merely in having the shield of the head more distinctly notched on each side, and the apex of the nose but without horn or tooth in rounded and reflexed, any triangular ; having two distinct ridges on the vertex, and in having no prothoracic horn, which 190 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

is replaced by a transverse emarginate ridge in the middle. [Quite common Canada found under the everywhere throughout ; generally droppings of horses or cattle.]

[126.] 175. Onthophagus scabricollis Kirby. —Length of body 4 lines. A single % specimen taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. This is so like the last insect that I felt at first disposed to consider it as merely a variety. The following differences in their character induce me however to consider them as distinct. Not to mention the difference of size, the female of O. laiebrosus has a distinct notch on each side of the head, of which there is no trace in O. scabricollis, the ridges of the vertex of the latter are more elevated, the prothorax is larger in proportion and much rougher, with larger and more numerous granules, and the four teeth of the cubit, which in the former are long and acute, in the latter are shorter and obtuse.

176. Trox arenarius Fabr. —Length of body 3 lines. Taken by Capt. Hall in Nova Scotia.

[127.] Body oblong, black, without any gloss. Head covered with cinereous varioles a little with a ; nose reflexed, rounded slight tendency to be antennae with a wide rather obtusangular ; ferruginous ; prothorax obsolete dorsal channel sides with two one near the anterior ; impressions, and the other basilar in the disk base lobed • lateral angle, ; margin fringed with ferruginous bristles : elytra slightly furrowed, interstices with each a series of elevations crowned with brown bristles, the elevations of the alternate series are tibiae three acute are minute ; anterior with teeth, they also serated at the base. [An European species, not found in Canada.] 177. Pelidnota punctata Linn. —Taken by Dr. Bigsby in Canada, near Lake St. Clair. [Abundant, and often very injurious to the foliage of the the of Ontario it does grape-vine throughout Western peninsula ; not occur, however, as far east as Toronto. For description and illus- " trations, see First Report on the Noxious Insects of Ontario," Saun- " ders's 106 or Harris's Insects to Report, page ; injurious Vegetation,"

p. 25 : Fitch, Riley, Packard, etc.]

[129.] 178. Camptorhina atracapilla Kirby. —Length of body 5 }± lines. Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby, and in Nova Scotia by Capt. Flail. [Synonymous with Serica vcsperlina Schonh., a species taken commonly throughout Ontario, and, according to Dr. Le Conte, in the Middle, Southern, Eastern and Western States, as far as Lake Superior. For vide Ent. description Say's Works, ii., p. 143.] THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 191

Genus Diplotaxis Kirby. —Labrum transverse, lanceolate, anteriorly emarginate. Mandibles very short, trigonal, incurved, truncated and con- cavo-convex at the channelled ? apex ; molary space small, irregular, Maxillae incrassated at the base . armed with very short, incurved, ; apex three short, stout, conical teeth. Labium very short, transverse, entire, separated by a faint line from the mentum. Mentum quadrangular, rather wider than long. Palpi maxillary four-jointed, very minute, cylindrical ; second and third in last thickest joints thicker, equal length, obconical ; and acute. labial first longest, lanceolate-ovate, Palpi three-jointed ; joint obconical second third ; subcylindrical ; nearly as long as the other two, but conical. Antennae scarcely thicker, ten-jointed ; scape elongato- obconical third fourth fifth ; pedicel nearly spherical ; and joints conical ; and sixth seventh ; the last a nearly top-shaped ; pateriform three forming short ovate knob.

[130.] Body between oblong and ovate, not hairy. Head inserted, with the vertex of the truncated rhinarium trans- subtriangular triangle ; nose mar- verse, vertical, widely emarginate ; transverse, distinct, anterior reflexed and no distinct or afternose can- gin subemarginate ; postnasus ;

thus septiform, cleaving : prothorax transverse with an anterior sinus of its

whole width to receive the head : scutellum short, triangular, somewhat

rounded at the vertex : podex and part of the penultimate dorsal segment of the abdomen uncovered: thus located cubit tridentate tarsi legs ;; ; ; slender claws filiform, ; bipartite, the interior lobe the shortest and widest, and obtuse the exterior acute. very ; very slender and Diplotaxis tristis —Plate — of — 179. Kirby. v., fig. 3. Length body 5 5/^ lines. Several specimens taken in Lat 54°. Taken also in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. [131.] Body dark chestnut, more or less grossly punctured above and below. Head thickly punctured with a pair of impressions between the

nose antennae rufous : eyes ; subemarginate ; and palpi prothorax thickly

punctured, slightly impressed at the four angles : scutellum impunctured : elytra rather paler than the head and prothorax, with nine rows of punctures, viz., a single one at the suture, four arranged in pairs at the disk, and four in the sides the interstices are ; between the rows also irregularly the four the are punctured ; posterior tarsi, especially intermediate pair, longer than the tibiae. Obs. In more recently disclosed specimens the body is often entirely pale - chestnut and sometimes rufous. [Common throughout Ontario. " Middle States and Lake Superior, not rare." Le Coutc] 192 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

[132.] 180. Rhizotrogus fervens Gyll. —Two specimens taken in Lat. a in Dr. with Lach- 54 ; variety Canada.by Bigsby. [Synonymous nosterna Frohl the common or of Canada. fusca ; May Beetle, Cockchafer, " A very common and, through Atlantic America, widely extended 'species, embracing several races, to which, however, no definite characters can be given." (Le Conte). For description and figure see Harris's Injurious Insects, page 30.] 181. Drakti — of the [133. J Rhizotrogus Kirby. Length body 9^ to \i%. lines. A single specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house. Varieties B and C, by Mr. Drake in Massachusetts. This species is extremely similar to the last, it differs principally in having the sides of the scutellum more thickly punctured, the ridges of the elytra, except the sutural one, are scarcely discoverable, and the podex larger and rounder at the apex : the tarsi also are longer in proportion : the knob of the antennae in all the specimens is longer. B. Much larger, and the elytra appear somewhat more thickly punctured, but it is scarcely distinct. C. Like A, but the ridges of the elytra are all discernible.'. [A race of the preceding species.]

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIES OF AGROTIS FROM CANADA.

BY AUG. R. GROTE, DEMOPOLIS, ALA.

Agrotis represses, Grote. Hind tibiae with two, middle tibiae with one of fore unarmed. pair spurs ; legs Palpi prominent, porrect ; 3rd joint elongated. Body somewhat flattened, much as in A. dandestina.

Squamation lustrous, silky. Unicolorous pale testaceous or greyish- brown. Fore and thorax the first are without mark- wings concolorous ; ings, except a short dark dash on the cell in place of the orbicular, and two similar superposed marks at the extremity of the cell, in place of the reniform spot. Three pale ante-apical dots on costa. Veins subobso- letely marked with darker scales. Secondaries pale with a testaceous tinge, darker shaded outwardly. Beneath paler, powdered with greyish and brownish scales faint traces of discal marks. scales dark ; Caputal testaceous. Antennae simple. Exps. 35 m. m. Length of body, 15 m. m. Appears nearest allied to A. brunneicollis and A. dandestina. Smaller than the latter, without the lateral abdominal dots, and with longer palpi and obliterate ornamentation of the primaries above.

I THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 193

ticketed : Lent me, with chrysalis, by Mr. William Saunders, and "from larva, 135 f together with specimens of A. clandestine ticketed: " from larva, 131." This species reminds me of Amphipyra itwrnata, but

it hind cannot be the same, although I fancy, in certain lights, that the wings are warmer tinted within vein 2. From recollection of the type in Mr. Saunders's collection, I cannot consider A. inornata a variety of A. pyramidoides, as has been suggested.

NOTES ON THE LARVA OF AGROTIS DEPRESSUS, Grote.

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

In the previous paper Mr. Grote describes a new species of Agrotis, under the name of depressus, which was sent him from my collection some This lime ago : he also refers to Agrotis clandestina as received from me. latter species was first determined for me by Mr. C. V. Riley, of St. Louis. Mo., and subsequently by Francis Walker, Esq., of the British Museum, " Mr. Riley has figured and described the larva in his first report on The was Noxious Insects of Missouri," p. 79, and my own description pub-

lished in the present volume of the Can. Ent., p. 35.

1 now give a description of the larva of Agrotis depressus, Grote, which I have reared for two summers past, having found it feeding on the grape vine. It is a yellowish green larva sparingly covered with very fine brownish hairs. Length 1.25 to 1.40 inches, nearly cylindrical.

Head rather under medium size, somewhat flattened in front, slightly

bilobed : green, with a few short fine hairs. Mandibles tipped with dark brown.

Body above, yellowish green, a little paler between the segments, with a dorsal and two lateral stripes of yellowish white, the lower one rather most prominent, running through the spiracles and extending posteriorly nearly around the anal lid. On each segment are several minute whitish of dots, slightly raised, but scarcely visible without a magnifyer, from each which arises a single fine hair. Spiracles yellowish, ringed with black.

The under surface is of a deeper shade of green than the upper : feet and prolegs green, faintly tipped with brown. This larva may be found full grown from the 10th to the 25th of June, the moths appearing early in July. 194 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

New Mode of Attracting Lepidoptera. We beg to direct the attention of our readers to the following new method of attracting Lepi- doptera, which appears to lie wonderfully successful in France, and trust that it will be tried next year in this country. We translate the account -" from Les Petites Nouvellcs'EntomoIogiques Xo. 37, page 148 : Among the various methods employed in the collection of Lepidoptera, the most successful, both as regards the quantity and freshness of the specimens which it enables one to procure, and as regards the number and rarity of species—the most successful, we say—is that which consists in employing some bait for the attraction of Lepidoptera. Everyone knows, indeed, the mode of pursuit indicated by the title of "sugaring" (micllee), and no one is ignorant how very productive it is. But this method is not the only one which consists in the employment of baits, and it is by no means the most productive. There is one other in particular, which is only known to some Entomologists, who are unwilling to divulge, even to their friends, the secret of the richness of their collection. One of our colleagues tells us that he had seen this mode of collection practised for some years, but without being able to obtain the secret of it. He saw a large quantity of nocturnal Lepidoptera taken in this way, and among them some rare species. •'This plan consists in suspending to trees, by means of twine, some apples half dried in an oven, known in commerce by the name of 'pommes au four, poultries tapeesj etc. These apples diffuse a strong odour of Rcincttc, an abnormal odour of some fruits in this state of desiccation.

From twilight, the Lepidoptera came hovering in swarms about this bait, which, after a little while, was literally covered with Noctuadoe, Geometers, etc., in a complete state of immobility. The collector had nothing more to do than to plunge the apple into a wide-necked bottle, charged with Cyanide of Potassium to kill them. He visited in this manner all his baits, and collected in half an hour more than he had collected in a week

' by means of sugaring.' " Some Entomologists, having discovered the ingredient by means of which they communicated this abnormal odour to apples, and being more desirous of benefitting their colleagues, and aiding the progress of science, than of preserving a monopoly of certain captures, have communicated, to us the result of their investigations, and we are happy to make it known T I IE (J A NADU N i: N T< >M0] an ; | ST. L 95

to our readers, in spite of the reproach of indiscretion which some will apply to ns.

k ' It suffices to dip these apples into Nitric Ether, and then to suspend them, by means of twine, to the branches of trees at a convenient height for the ready introduction of the insects into the bottle of Cyanide. As in

' the case of sugaring,' the best places are forest glades, edges of woods, sides of roads adorned with trees or hedges, etc. "Lepidoptera are so much attracted by the odour of this Ether, that they attach themselves to the apple, and suffer themselves to become com pletely intoxicated by the vapour, remaining in such a perfect state of immobility as to permit, without difficulty, the introduction of the apple into the bottle, and the collection of Lepidoptera in a most perfect state of freshness."

In the subsequent number of Petites Nonvcllcs Entomologiques (Oct. 15, 1871), we find the following result of experiments with this mode of attracting moths :- " M. Fallon has tried, in the forest of Senart, the mode of collecting by means of Nitric Ether, of which we spoke in our last number, and has communicated to us a curious observation on the matter. He tried this method three days running, and on the third day he saw, in twenty

minutes, his baits literally covered with moths. But the first day not a single moth came, and the second day he scarcely saw any. This shows Entomologists possessed of little patience, whom want of success at first might discourage, that ill-success may be accidental. "M. Fallon conjectured that the cause of the absence of moths during the first and second days of Iris trial, might be attributed to the proximity of vines, and the maturity of the grapes, which drew away the moths. This appears to be undoubtedly the case, though it is not perhaps the cause should as ascribe the in to a too only ; we readily fact, part, great abundance of Ether vapour during the first days. Indeed, the vapour of Nitric Ether, sufficiently diluted, has a very decided odour of Reinette, but when it is in large proportion, the Ether character of the odour pre- dominates too much, and it has but slightly the odour oiReinettc. In this condition, Nitric Ether can have but few attractions for moths."

[nquilinous Moth Larva in Oak Galls. -I have lately bred the

moth from the little Tineidous larva, referred to on page 119, as infesting

acorns injured by a pip-like gall. It is a little speckled gray species belonging to the genus Gelec/ua, and which I had previously bred from

. variows other oak and from that of galls, especially Cynips

This little moth may possibly be one of Clemens's species, but on comparing it with the European G. geminella, Linn., in Mr. Stainton's collection, I found it so very similar that I have no doubt of the identity of the

two. especially as their species is said to breed from Oak buds. It may, I think, safely be added to the list of insects common to both continents. It so closely resembles the well known Tinea grandla, Linn., that the two. upon a casual glance might easily be confounded. The larvai of the two species differ materially, however. That of the latter is a very general feeder, and 1 have even bred it from the dry corks of bottles contain-

substances it is of a uniform or tallow colour, ing poisonous ; dirty-white, the head with dark-brown jaws, and its brown border showing plainly through a semi-transparent honey-yellow cervical shield. That of the little Gelechia, on the contrary, is deep carneous and more pilose, and though the head and shield are of the same honey-yellow colour, the latter has darker posterior and lateral margins.- C.V. Riley, St. Louis, Nov. i, 187 i. Destruction of the Walsh Cabinet in the Chicago Fire.

We have no reason to suppose that the great Chicago fire consumed any considerable number of noxious insects, with the exception of that very familiar and domestic species known, in scientific language, as the Cimex lectularius. If these had been the only insects destroyed, resignation would have been an easy virtue. But, as if it were ordained that no kind of interest should escape grief and loss from that great calamity, so the science of entomology was put under heavy contribution, by the destruction, not onlv of many small amateur collections of insects, but also bv

the ruin of the large collection belonging to the Chicago Academy of

Science, and over and above all, in value and importance, was the admirable cabinet of insects purchased by the State from the heirs of the late Benj. D. Walsh, of Rock Island, and which had been deposited in the Academy for safe keeping. 'The value of this collection consisted not only in the large number of species represented, but still more in the scientific accuracy with which they were labelled and classified. About a tenth part of this cabinet, which happened to be at the residence of the writer, consisting mostly of duplicates of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. which had been set aside for the Industrial University, is all that is left of this famous Cabinet. When we consider the long years of patient toil and research of which this cabinet was the result, the thought of its irrevocable destruction becomes too painful to be dwelt upon, especially by the pro- fessed entomologist, to whom this cabinet was invaluable for purposes of

reference. —Prairie Farme} . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 19

Nova Scotian Hymenoptera. —In a collection of Nova Scotian

Insects, entrusted to me by J. Matthew Jones, Esq., of Halifax, Nova Scotia, are the following species, which Fred. Smith, Esq., of the British

Museum, has kindly named. I hope, shortly, to forward a list of additional species :- Aliantus Zona / King. Nomada Americana, Kirby. Ammophila uran/'a, King. Andrma vicina, Smith. Vespa armaria, Fabr. Halictus parallelus, Sauss. Yespa borealis, Klug. Bonibus vagans, Smith. " Sauss. Odynerus albophaleratus, tcrricola, Kirby. " Sphecodes dic/iroa, Smith. fervens, Fabr. " Megachile obtusa, Smith. ornatus, St. Farg. Nov., 1871. F. Walker!

Pieris rapJe Parasite.—It will doubtless be an interesting item of to intelligence many of the readers of the Naturalist, that the parasite, so anxiously looked for, as the only hope of preserving the cabbage crop of our country from the destruction threatened it by the ravages of Pieris rupee, has already entered upon its labours, and in so efficient a manner as to promise immediate beneficial results. During the latter part of September, I was informed that a number of chrysalids of P. rapa-, which had been collected by a gentleman in this city, with a view of obtaining specimens of the imagines for drawing, instead of disclosing the butterfly, gave out a number of small flies from each. of them Some having been brought to me in compliance with my request, I was delighted to find them to be of the genus Pteromalus which includes so many of our valued parasitic friends, and probably of the species which has been found so serviceable in Europe, in destroying the several cabbage butterflies there existing—viz., the Ptpuparum of Linnaeus. From the close resemblance which many of the Pteromali bear to one another, it is not safe to assert positively that we have really been favoured with the importation of the European parasite, to aid in the work of sub- jugation of the European pest, but should further examination prove this to be the case, it will be not only a most interesting event in its scientific- aspect, but also in the pecuniary results which must necessarily follow it. In — another number,— I may give your readers the observations quite limited,— I regret which I have been able to make on this welcome parasite. J. A. Lintner, N. Y. State Museum of Nat. Hist. [We have also raised this parasite in considerable abundance, and also received specimens from Vermont. We have likewise reared a Dipterous parasite from the cocoons. Eds.]—American Naturalist 198 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Varia from Pctites Nouvelles. -The collections of Coleoptera (Longi- corns and Anthribidae) of the learned author of Geneva, Prof. Lacordaire. now form a part of the Museum at Brussels. —The numerous collection of Curculionidoe of M. A. Deyrolle is now the property of the Philadelphia Museum. However, the types of Lacordaire, A. Deyrolle, M. Jekel, etc., which are deposited in this collection, as well as of the numerous series of at species which compose it, will be placed by M. Agassiz the disposition of Entomologists in cases of serious need. [Query by Ed. C. E. : — Is this collection in the Museum of Comp. Zool. at Cambridge, Mass., or in that of one of the Societies at Philadelphia? Perhaps some American

Entomologist can inform us.]—During the siege of Paris, Dr. Boisduval, although much engaged every day in attending .the sick and wounded, nevertheless continued his work upon the Sphinges : he laboured ardently upon it during the whole continuance of the siege, in spite of the shells and projectiles which exploded all round his house, and fell upon the Yal-de-grace and the Pantheon, the tremendous concussion of which

fill shattered the glass of his cabinets ! Tin's work, now completed, will up one of the gaps in the Suites a Buffon, and will form the fourth volume of the Natural History of Lepidoptera. It will include the Sphinges. Castnidse and Agaristida^, and will be published on the same plan as the first volume, which treats of Papilios, Pierides, etc. The learned doctor intends to continue his work till he completes the remaining volumes. Entomology. —Mr. Roland Trimen, F.L.S., F.Z.S., read a note on a curious South African grasshopper, Traehypetra bi/fo, White, which mimics with much precision the appearance of the stones among which it lives. He commenced by observing that some tendency existed to separate too widely those cases of mimicry where one animal imitated another from those in which an animal closely resembled either some part of a plant or some inorganic object; and expressed the opinion that these two sets of cases were wholly one in kind, the evident object in all being the protection of the imitator.

1 Ascribing a visit paid to the vicinity of Grahamstown in search of this insect, he observed that it was a work of considerable difficulty to distinguish the grasshoppers from the stones, and he was engaged for half an hour in careful search over a known station of the species before discover- ing an example. He noted the further most interesting fact, that, in certain spots (often only a few square yards in extent) where the stones lying on the ground were darker, lighter, or more mottled than those generally prevalent, the Traehypetra found among such stones varied similarly from the ordinary dull ferruginous-brown colouring in imitation of them. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 199

It was pointed out that the close imitation of the stones was mainly effected by the modification of the dorsal shield of the prothorax, which is. with the whole thorax, much flattened and widened, and is further much produced posteriorly, and has its surface roughened or granulated in close resemblance to the surface of the stones.

In conclusion, he called attention to the bearing of the case of this insect on the of the of and in the alterna- question origin species ; putting tive whether the peculiar station of the Trachypetra had been specially prepared for it immediately before or simultaneously with the creation of the insect, or whether, on the contrary, the insect had been very gradually modified by natural selection in imitation of the stones for the purpose of concealment, he expressed his decided opinion in favor of the latter hypo- thesis.

Specimens of the insect were exhibited in association with some of the stones among which they were captured, and the very close resemblance between stones and insects excited general remark. Mr. Trimen observed that in nature the mimicry was more effective, the colours of the dead insects having faded considerably, and the shrinking of the abdomen having caused the hind legs to be much more apparent than was the case in living examples. —Nature.

New Entomological Hooks. The 14th fasciculus of Mulsant's " kt Opuscula Entomologica is just published. The 3rd volume of the " Natural History of the Hemiptera of France'' will be ready in a few- days, and will contain four tribes. M. Mulsant hasifciblished the new " edition of his History of the Lamellicorns of France, as well as the 1st " " part of the Staphylinidae." A new edition of the Iconography and Natural History of Larvae of Lepidoptera,'' by M M. Duponchel and

Guenee, is about to be issued : the work gives descriptions and figures of a great number of the larvae of European Lepidoptera, of course including these are contained in ex- English species \ figures ninety-three plates, cellently coloured : the work is published in forty fasciculi, at one franc each. Of the Iconography and Description of unpublished Lepidoptera of Europe, by P. Milliere, twenty-five fasciculi have been published, and these contain more than a thousand descriptions of larvae, pupae and perfect insects, with the plants on which the larvae feed, and other details of their the work is the of all lovers of the life-history ; worthy support science can exceed the and finish of the —Neiv- ; nothing delicacy figures. maris Entomologist. 200 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c.

The undersigned would be pleased to open communications with any Entomologist in Canada, United States or England with a view to ex- changing specimens. Address James Colweix, care of A. Choun, Kingston, Ont.

The undersigned would be pleased to correspond with Lepidopter- ex- ologists (Southern and Western U. S. preferred), with a view to V.. S. changes. Address Edw. L. Graee, 40 Court St., Brooklyn, N. U.

Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds" Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which 1 should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named.— Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holvoke. Mass. An American who has made a of Entomologist, speciality Lepidoptera,— would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world.- Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler. 68. Pearl-street. Boston, Mass. — ADVERTISEMENTS.

('ork and Pins. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot: and a full supply of of Klaeger's pins, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2.—We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 beinc: deficient, however, and out of- print. Price $1.25 (gold) each.

List of Canaeoan Coleoptera. -Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets. 1 to 2000. for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada. — E. B. Reed, London, Ont; W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal. Institute, P.Q.; G. J. Bowles. Quebec. P. Q.: J. Johnston. Canadian Toronto, Ont. United States. —The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; No. J. Y. Green, Newport, Vt.: W. A*. Andrews, Room 17, 137 Broadwav, New York.'

V - . - J

%\t Canadian Entomologist.

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., DECEMBER, 187 1. No. 11

NOTES ON SAMIA COLUMBIA, S. I. Smith. See Frontispiece, Fig. 37.

By G. J. BOWLES, QUEBEC.

This beautiful moth was discovered by Professor S. I. Smith, at Nor- way, Maine, and described by him in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. IX., March 1865. It is nearly allied to the well known Samia Cccropia, but differs therefrom in being slightly smaller, and in the colouration and markings, as well as in the form of the cocoon and appearance of the larva. It may, therefore, be regarded as a well established species. I have been so fortunate as to obtain a specimen at Quebec, and can therefore add this moth to our list of Canadian Bom- bvcidae.

The species is evidently rare in this vicinity. I have met with it only three times, and have not heard of its having been taken by any other Quebec collector. In August, 1864, I captured a full grown larva of this moth, crawling along a fence, in search of some place in which to make its cocoon. It closely resembled a Cecropia caterpillar in size and general larva of that I did appearance. Thinking it, therefore, to be a species, not take notes at the time on a close examination I could not ; though quite reconcile the colour and arrangement of the tubercles with the description of S. Cccropia given by Morris. The principal difference (as far as I can remember), was in the number of red warts with which the larva was ornamented, S. Columbia possessing more than the other species. As Professor Smith has never seen a specimen, our knowledge of the early history of the moth must remain defective, until some happy bug- hunter discovers the caterpillar, and gives us a detailed account of its beauties. I may add that S. Cccropia has not yet been taken at Quebec, though it is found at Lofbiniere, about forty miles west of the city. The larva above mentioned duly spun its cocoon, which was at first of a whitish colour, but in a few days gradually turned to dark brown, and then was exactly similar to the cocoons I afterwards found. The moth diedjnthe of chrysalis state, owing, perhaps, to the presence parasite^^fTT]) JJii*^ 202 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Two years afterwards, I found another cocoon attached to a twig of thorn ( Crataegus), but it was full of large parasites, all dead in the pupa. In the fall of 1867, Mr. Couper informed me that he had seen a Saturnian larva spinning up on a gate-post just outside the city, and on examining the place, 1 discovered a cocoon, which, in the following May, produced the moth, a female, Samia Columbia, from which the accompanying drawing was made.

The food-plants of the species are stated by Prof. Smith to be Nemo- pantlies Canadensis and Rhodora Canadensis ; and perhaps Kalmia angu's- tifolia, the maple and the larch. From the situations in which I found the larva and cocoons—on dry and cultivated ground— I think it may also feed on other plants, as none of those mentioned, except the maple, were within accessible distance. Rhodora Canadensis, its favorite food in Maine, grows abundantly in an excellent hunting-ground for entomologists—the " Gomin Swamp," a large mossy tract of land about two miles from Quebec. I made several visits to this locality last Spring, and searched the Rhodora carefully for cocoons, but did riot find any. Perhaps some Western collector may be more fortunate with this plant in his own neighbourhood. The Rev. C. J. S. Bethune states that it is common in rear of Toronto.

The rarity of the moth is no doubt partially due to the fact, that the species is attacked by several parasites. Prof. Smith mentions that out of more than twenty cocoons, he succeeded in obtaining only three perfect insects, nearly all the rest having been destroyed by ichneumons and other enemies. Two species of these have been described in Prof. Smith's paper, by Dr. Packard, as new, under the names of Cryptus samice and Cryptus Smithii. It is likely that the larvae are equally subject to these attacks in Canada, as one (perhaps two) of the three cocoons I obtained, failed to produce the moth from this cause.

Prof. Smith has kindly sent me photographs of the moths, cocoon and chrysalis described by him, so that all doubt is removed as to the identity of my specimen with his. I add his descriptions, to make these notes complete : — " Male. Antennae black, and broadly pectinated. Palpi dark maroon with a white band before side dark with brown. Thorax ; upper maroon, a short band behind beneath black the also grey ; ; legs black, slightly tinged with brownish towards the extremities. Abdomen annulated with alternate black and dirty white. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 203

" Above, Primaries with a greyish-white band near the base, extending from the inner nearly to the costal border, and enclosing a reddish-brown r patch at the base. \ ne middle area of the wing is dark brown, tinged with reddish towards the centre, and contains a triangular white discal spot, bordered on the side toward the base with black, and on the other sides with greyish-brown. There is a narrow white transverse band, wider toward the inner border, between the middle and outer areas. A sinuous black line, on a clay-coloured ground, crosses the posterior border. Near the apex there is a round black spot, containing a bluish-white crescent, with its horns toward the outer border ; between this and another small oblong black spot at the apex, there is a white line in the form of a W, with the upper side toward the outer border. A space along the costal border, extending from this zigzag line almost to the middle area, is bluish white, growing darker and more indistinct as it approaches the transverse band. A short band between the middle area and the greyish outer border, extending from the inner border a third of the way across the wing, is dark greyish-brown, becoming lighter as it leaves the inner border. Secondaries with a small dirty white spot on the shoulder, and the anterior

T border just edged with the same. A w hite transverse band similar to the one on the primaries. The space between this band and the base of the is dark with the discal and white the outer border wing brown, spot large ; is margined with clay-colour, bounded on the inside by an arcuate black line. Just inside of this line, there is a band of oblong black spots on a the between this band of and the transverse greyish ground ; space spots band is occupied by a wide greyish-brown band. " the of the side are but all the Beneath, markings upper repeated ; reddish tints are wanting, so as to leave the ground colour of the wings black, intermingled with whitish scales. The discal spots are bordered with black. " Female. The antennae are less broadly pectinated than in the male, and all the colours less intense. Discal spots of the primaries almost obsolete short lines bordered with and to the ; being only black, parallel transverse band. Discal spots of the secondaries much smaller than in the male, and more rounded. " Expanse of wings, $ 4 in.; $ 4.9 in.

: The cocoon is double j the outer coat being an oblong oval, pointed at the end dark with little of and upper ; ashy brown, patches silvery silk, with an irregular, knobby surface. The inner cocoon is of a regular oval 204 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

at both ends, and closely woven upon the outer coat, except at the upper end, where the point of the outer cocoon extends above the inner one. Length of cocoon, 1.80 to 2.15 in.; diameter .6 to .8 in. They are attached longitudinally to twigs. The imagines appear at the end of May. " This species differs materially in colour from S. Cecropia. The male has the antennae, palpi, thorax and legs much darker. The short grey

(or whitish) band on the hind part of the thorax is not found in .S*. Cec- ropia. The discal spots of all the wings are white instead of dull red with a white centre. The transverse bands of both pairs of wings are white, instead of dull red bordered internally with white. It wants the broad white band so conspicuous on the anterior border of the secondaries of 6". Cecropia, and also the reddish tints and markings -near the apices of the primaries. " The female differs from that of S. Cecropia in having the palpi, legs and abdominal rings dark brown, or almost black, instead of dull red. The discal spots of the primaries are linear, obscure and parallel to the transverse band, instead of broad, conspicuous and parallel to the costal border. The discal spots of the secondaries are small, and almost round, instead of large and somewhat triangular. As in the male, it has the white on the hind part of the thorax, and wants the white on the anterior border of the secondaries, and also the red on the apices of the primaries, on the discal spots, and on the transverse bands. " The cocoon differs greatly from that of S. Cecropia. It is much smaller and of a more regular form. It is dark brown, approaching black in some places, with silvery spots; instead of uniformly light brown. The inner and outer cocoons are so closely woven together, except at the very as to be with while in S. are top, separated difficulty ; Cecropia they separated by quite a space filled with loose silk." " Since the publication of Dr. Packard's Synopsis of the Bombycidae of the United States" in 1864, the genus Samia (Hubner) in America has been restricted by Mr. Grote to a Chinese silkmoth, the Samia Cynthia of Linnaeus, which has been introduced *into the United States, and has become acclimatized there. Mr. Grote has erected the new genus Platysamia (Broad Samia) for Cecropia, Columbia and Californica (the Saturnia Euryale of Boisduval, found in California). By this revision, therefore, the species under consideration will in future bear the name of Platysamia Columbia, S. I. Smith. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 205

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

UY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KV

Continued from Pa«e 185.

LEUCANTHIZA ?

L. Saundersella. N. sp.

: Palpi white : face opalescent or silvery, according to the light antennae maroon-brown, silvery towards the apex : tuft maroon-brown : thorax of a shining metallic lustre, in some lights opalescent : a streak of the same hue crosses the extreme base of the wings, is continued for a short distance along the dorsal margin, and thence curves obliquely across the wing again to the costal margin, enclosing a maroon-brown patch upon the costa, and being narrowly margined behind with dark maroon, beyond which the wing is bright golden to the apex. There is a short oblique somewhat curved brilliant metallic streak upon the costa, about the middle, pointing forwards, and nearly reaching the fold, with a maroon-brown from the costa before it to the costa behind it and dark margin extending ; a second smaller straight costal streak, of the same hue, similarly dark margined, placed at the beginning of the costal ciliae. Another straight streak of the same hue extends from the middle of the dorsal margin to the beginning of the dorsal ciliae, with a maroon-brown margin extending of the around it, and continued as a narrow band entirely around the apex at the base of the to the second costal streak ciliae wing, ciliae, ; silvery ex. inch. taken in in gray. Alar )<{ A single specimen Kentucky August. Larva and food plant unknown. I have named this pretty species in honour of Mr. Wm. Saunders, of the Canadian Entomologist. The markings of the head, thorax and basal half of the wings, must be very similar to those of Leucanthiza ainphicarpcafoliella, Clem., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. P/ii/a., 1859, but those of the dorsal and apical portions seem to be very different. Those of the anterior portion are very similar also to those of Lithocottetis ornatella, ante, which, as before stated, seems to obliterate the differences between these two genera, except as to the neuration of the wings, as to which, the species of Lithocolletis differ some- can be what among themselves. I, therefore, doubt whether Leucanthiza maintained as a distinct genus. Having but a single specimen, I have not examined its neuration. But from its evidently strong resemblance to the only other described species (L. amphicarpecEfolieUa), I place it for the nonce in that genus. 206 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

PHYLLOCNISTIS.

The species of this pretty genus of snow-white moths may be distinguished from the white species of Lithocolletis by the smooth head and the usually smaller size. Otherwise, they resemble each other strongly. The resemblance between Z. Chmensdla and P. vitifoliella, and between P. liriodendronella and L. caryce-albella, is very great. The larvae also, not- withstanding that they are apodal, resemble the young cylindrical larvae of Lithocolletis in general appearance.

The mine is a long narrow winding line like the track of a small snail, and it pupaies in a nidus at the end of the mine on the edge of the leaf.

i. Z. vitifoliella. N. sp. Glistening snowy white, the forewings tinged with, golden towards the apex. Behind the middle of the wing is a narrow oblique blackish costal streak, and behind it again another small straight one, opposite to which

is a small straight dorsal one. At the tip is a circular black spot, and before it on the costa are two straight black streaks. At the tip of the

wing are two blackish diverging lines in the ciliae, with another also in the ciliae beneath the apical spot, and nearly adjoining the blackish hinder

marginal line. Ciliae silvery. Hind wings and ciliae silvery white. Alar. ex. less than y^ inch. The larva mines the upper surface of Wild Grape leaves from May to October. Kentucky. Wisconsin. Since the above was written, I have seen the remarks of Dr. Clemens, in Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., vol. i, p. 135, under Lyonetia, in which he describes a mine in leaves of grape vines, in which the parenchyma is entirely eaten out, and the frass centrally deposited, in both respects

differing from the mine of P. vitegenella, which resembles a snail's track. Dr. Clemens did not succeed in rearing the imago, but thought it was distinct from P. vitegenella, though closely resembling it. On examining my herbarium specimens of the mined leaves, I have no doubt that Dr. Clemens had the mines of this species before him. In Kentucky it is as abundant as P. vitegenella, all through the summer, in all of its stages, and can be found in winter abundantly hybernating under the loose bark of Hickory trees, and in similar situations in company with P. vitegenella, and

occasionally P. a?npelopsifoliella. It seems to bear nearly the same relation to P. vitegenella that Lithocolletis Clemensella does to L% lucidicostella.

2. P. vitegenella, Clem. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., i8$g, p. 327.

Differs from P. vitifoliella only in the following respects : The antennae are blackish is semi-oval blackish on the dorsal above ; there a pale spot of the far from the the costal streak margin wings, not base ; second THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 207

unites with the opposite dorsal one, forming a narrow fascia. Alar ex. surface of less than }£ inch. Very abundant in its mine, on the upper grape leaves, as larva and pupa, from May to November. Imago from June to November, and hybernating under bark. Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

3. P. ampelopsietta. N~. sp. An- Glittering snowy white wings, slightly golden towards the apex. tennae, except near the base, suffused with pale fuscous. A pale black spot on the dorsal margin of the wings, not far from the base. An indistinct blackish median longitudinal line 011 the thorax. A very distinct oblique black basal streak above the fold, beginning at the base of the costa, and parallel to the fold. Behind the middle of the costa is an oblique costal black streak, which is produced along the costa. Behind this is a black line curving from the costa to the inner margin. At the tip is a circular black spot, and before it, on the costa, are two straight black streaks, the posterior of which is the longest, passing before the apical spot nearly to the inner margin. also in At the tip are two black diverging lines in the ciliae, and another the ciliae beneath the apical black spot, and nearly joining the black hinder marginal line. Abdomen anil legs tinged with pale golden. Ciliae silvery. Alar. ex. less than y£ inch. Kentucky. Common.

The points in which it differs from P. vitegenella are indicated by the italics, and its dark markings are more distinct.

The larva mines the under surface of leaves of the Virginia Creeper

( Ampelopsis quinquefolia) through the summer, and until the fall of the leaves. Usually, at some point of the mine, it is spread out, assuming the appearance of a white blotch, and thus differs from the mines of the other three species. The parenchyma is not all eaten out, and the mine is not transparent, thus resembling that of P. vitegenella and P. liriodendronella,

and differing from that of P. vitifoliella.

4. P. liriodendronella, Clem. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., v. 2, p. 13.

This is the only other described American species. It mines the

leaves of the Tulip Poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera), but it is not, as Dr. Clemens supposed, confined to the upper side of the small terminal leaves. It mines both surfaces, without regard to the size of the leaf. And there is a mine, which I believe to be the same, upon both surfaces of the leaves of Magnolia glauca, and upon the upper surface of those of M. grandiflora, and probably upon all of our native Magnoliacece, though I have never observed it on the Japanese M. purpurea. 208 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

It is a little larger than either of the preceding species having an alar ex. of fully y± in. It is glistening snowy-white, with a pale golden basal streak from the base of the costa above the fold, and which unites at a somewhat acute angle with the first costal streak. The wing is more golden than the preceding species, and the streaks are rather wider apart. It is not very common in Kentucky, although its food plant is abundant and it is rather difficult to rear in because ; confinement, probably the leaves dry so rapidly. There is another species, the imago of which is unknown. The larvci mines the leaves of an unknown weed, growing in small tufts like a plan- tain, the leaves of which are deeply lobate, occurring abundantly all through the Gulf states, especially in damp woods. The larva is very abundant, and its anal segment very long. Mine, like that of P. vitifoliella. TISCHERTA.

This genus differs from Lithocottetis in the much plainer colours of the imago, and much shorter antennae, which in the males are ciliated. The also are small maxillary palpi developed, though and scarcely perceptible ; and in this respect, as well as in the position of the imago in repose— with the head elevated, and the apex of the wings touching the surface upon which the insect rests—it makes an approach to Gracittaria. The larvae are very cleanly, always depositing the frass outside of the mine and the mines are the side of the fre- ; always upon upper leaves, quently at the edge, and resembling the mines of some Graciilarim. It pupates in the mine. i. Tischeria malifoliella, Clem. P7vc. Acad. Nat. Sri. P/iila., i860, p. 208.

A plain bronzy-brown insect, having an alar ex. of a little more than y^ inch. Dr. Clemens found it in apple leaves, and I have also bred it from leaves of different species of Haw (Crataegus), Sweet Scented Crab (Pyrus coronaria), Blackberry (Rubus villosus), and Raspberry (R. occidentalis). And it probably mines other species of Rosacea?. Dr. Clemens also very briefly characterizes the following species, in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. P/ii/a., i8jg,p. 326, viz.:— T. solidagonifolieUa, mining leaves of Solidago, which I have never met with.

T. ZeUeriella and T. citrinipenella^ both of which feed within Oak leaves.

T. quercilei/a, Proc. Ent. Soc, Phila., v. 2, p. 73, which also mines Oak leaves. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 209

I am not certain that I have seen either of these Oak-feeding species. I have, however, several Oak-feeding species differing slightly from these, and from each other. Dr. Clemens seems to have doubted whether the described him were distinct and those of Dr. species by really ; and mine, Clemens resemble each other so closely, that only an attentive study of the mines and insects in all their stages, and with many specimens, can give anything like certainty as to the distinctness of species. I therefore postpone any further descriptions of species. CEMIOSTOMA.

C. albe/la, ante, mines the leaves of the Cottonwood (Populus monili- fera), and may, therefore, be an American species—if it is not the Euro- pean C. susinella.

I have also cocoons of a species which mines the leaves of Yellow Willow (Salix alba), and Weeping Willow ( S. Babylonica)—both imported species. The cocoons do not differ from those of C. albeita, and

it possibly may be that species. The mines are very filthy, and the larva hides in the frass, its filthy habits contrasting strongly with the singular purity and beauty of the resurrected imago.

ON THE LARVA OF HYPERETIS ALIENARIA, Herr. Sell.

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

The larva of this beautiful geometric moth is dark brown, and feeds on beech. The specimens, from which the subjoined description was made, were taken on the ioth of September, by beating the branches of some beech trees over an umbrella.

Length one inch, body cylindrical.

Head medium sized, bilobed, dark brown, with two bluish-white lines in front mandibles ; paler.

Body above, dark brown, with a row of dull white dots on each side, one or two on each segment, most prominent from fifth to eighth segments inclusive, less distinct towards each extremity. On the posterior part of ninth segment were two rather prominent roundish black tubercles, with a few whitish streaks in front at their base. Terminal segment of a bluish tint, flattened and spreading. 210 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

The under surface was rather paler than the upper, with a central row of dots from fifth to tenth inclusive from the yellowish-white segments ; second to the fourth, the colour was bluish-green, and on twelfth segment was a of feet with a streak of patch yellow ; bluish-green, brown, prolegs brown on the outside, but bluish-green within. Two of these larvae entered the chrysalis state on the 19th of Sep- tember, having formed a rude case in which to secrete themselves, by binding two leaves together with threads of silk. One of them produced the imago on the 18th, the other on the 21st of May following.

NOTES ON MEGACHILE BREVIS, Say

BY E. B. REED, LONDON, ONT,

While inspecting, during the past summer, the fruit orchards of a friend residing in this neighbourhood, my attention was attracted by the peculiar appearance of the leaves of a young plum tree. At the first glance, I

FIG. 38. thought it might be affected by aphides, but, on closer examination, I of the work found unmistakable evidence of some leaf-cutting bee, in the circular holes in many of the leaves, and on opening one of the coils of leaves, of which there were four or five, I discovered the curious chambers THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 211

of the bee, each containing a half-grown grub, comfortably ensconced, with its modicum of food. I took some coils home, but only succeeded in rearing two perfect insects, which Mr. C. V. Riley, of St. Louis, Mo., kindly identified for me, as being Megachile brevis, Say, and which are represented in fig. 38. My chief object in this communication is to call attention to the pecu- as liarity of the cells being constructed on the leaves of the tree, and not, is usually the case, in some post or fence-rail, or in a chamber excavated in the ground. I am not aware that this has been noticed before. Each coil contained probably four or five chambers. The three I took had five, and I left others on the tree. The leaf, or outside wrapper, appeared to be fastened with some kind of cement, while the interior portion was contrived and planned in the manner usual to this little upholsterer, and which has been so admirably explained and related by various Entomo- logical writers. The genus Megachile consists usually of solitary bees, and as far as I can gather, they construct but one nest. But in this case, it would appear that more than one insect had attacked the tree. I saw no bees in the immediate vicinity, nor could I detect traces of their work on other trees. The tree stood quite remote from any rose bush, or in fact from any tree having the usual form of serrated leaves, which leaf- cutting bees generally select. The coils appeared to be all finished, and apparently of about the same date of construction. In those I examined, there was not much difference in the age of the larvae.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRITISH AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirby's Fauna Boreali-A?nericana : Insecta. (Continued from page 192.)

Genus Dichelonycha Harris. —Labrum transverse, lanceolate, scarcely emarginate. Mandibles short, trigonal, incurved, toothless, acute : molary space transverse, furrowed. Maxillae minute, linear, bidentate, with short teeth. Labium subquadrangular, not distinct from the mentum. Palpi maxillary four-jointed; first joint very minute; second longer than the obconical third last as as the three others third, ; triangular ; joint long subsecuriform. labial together, very large, Palpi three-jointed ; joints subfiliform last truncated. obconi- short, ; Antennae nine-jointed ; scape 212 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

incrassated third and fourth subfiliform cal, ; pedicel subspherical ; joints ; fifth obconical sixth subturbinate the three last a short sub- ; ; forming ovate knob. Body narrow, subcylindrical. Head subquadrangular ; nose transverse, separated oy an indistinct obtusangular line, anteriorly reflexed; rhinarium transverse marked with a transverse series of rather large punc-

tures canthus : the sides ; eyes prominent ; entering prothorax hexagonal,

being obtusangular : scutellum rounded at the vertex, dilated at the base : rounded at the wrinkled elytra linear, apex, obsoletely ridged, ; epipleura

narrow : rather slender hind cubit tridentate vertical, legs ; legs long ; ;

tarsi filiform claws equal, all bifid at the apex : podex subtriangular. [134.] This genus evidently belongs to the same family with Macrod- actylus, from which it is distinguished by having its maxillae armed only with two teeth, the last joint of its palpi of a different shape, and its

labium approaching to a square form : whereas in the latter genus the maxillae are more conspicuous and armed with three teeth, the last joint of the palpi is subovate, and the labium is oblong and channelled. The species of this genus, as far as at present known, appear to be confined to the more northern of the I seen none parts new world ; have south of the province of Massachusetts, from whence I have received specimens both from Dr. Harris and Mr. Drake. Type of the genus Melolontha linearis Herbst.

182. — 6. — of Dichelonycha Backii Kirby. Plate ii., fig. Length

body 4*^ lines. Several specimens taken in Lat. 54 . Body black, glossy, hairy, especially underneath, with white decumbent hairs above mar- ; thickly and coarsely punctured. Nose much reflexed, entire stalk of the antennae chestnut more or gin ; ; elytra silky, green, less bronzed.

Variety B. Antennae rufous. Tarsi pale chestnut. [Taken on north shore of Lake Superior by Agassiz's Expedition.] — 183. Dichelonycha virescens Kirby. —Length of body 4^ 5 lines. Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby, in Nova Scotia by Dr. Mac Culloch, in Massachusetts by Dr. Harris, and in Pennsylvania by Dr. Horsfield. Dr. Bigsby found it common on the different species of Salix.

[135.] Body piceous, thickly covered underneath, except the disk of the breast and abdomen, with decumbent snowy hairs, minutely punctured, punctures most numerous on the upper side. Head nearly black, covered with decumbent hairs nose obtuse and almost glittering ; very less in rufous truncate, reflexed than D. Backii, reflexed part obscurely ; its rufous rhinarium, underside of the head, and mouth with organs, ; THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 213

antennae reddish-yellow : prothorax nearly black with the sides a little paler, with a longitudinal discoidal rather obsolete channel and an im-

on each side with short hairs : pression ; sprinkled glittering decumbent scutellum rufous, thickly covered at the base with whitish decumbent hairs : elytra reddish-yellow tinted with green, sprinkled 'with short decumbent whitish hairs, the lateral punctures are almost arranged in dense rows: abdomen rufous; podex thickly covered with snowy hairs: legs tarsi darker tibiae reddish at the base* reddish-yellow ; ; posterior black, posterior tarsi piceous. Variety B. Head and rufous. prothorax rufopiceous ; legs C. and rufous mottled with Head prothorax dusky ; elytra with a at the shoulders and green spot tips ; posterior rufous trunk rufous. legs entirely ; [This species is in all probability synonymous with D. dongatula Schon., the var. C belonging to D. subvittata Lee. Both of these species are in various common Canada ; we have generally taken them upon kinds of Oaks.] c 184. Dichelonycha testacea Kirby.—Length of body 4^/3 lines. Taken by Dr. Bigsby in Canada. similar to of the but the with Very Variety C preceding species ; body, the exception of the eyes which are black, is entirely of one colour, rufo- testaceous, the head, prothorax, and tarsi being rather darker than the rest the are and more the head and ; eyes larger prominent ; prothorax, the are more and in especially latter, thickly and minutely punctured ; this there is no dorsal channel : its margins, especially the lateral, are more the exhibit no humeral or and hairy, elytra apical green spot ; they are very slightly tinted with that colour. [Two females found at Eagle Harbour, Lake Superior, by Dr. Le Conte. Included in the List of Canadian Coleoptera.] — [136.] 185. Cetonia fulg'ida Fabr. Length of body 7^ lines. Taken in Canada, at Lake St. Clair, by Dr. Bigsby. Body depressed, of a beautiful glossy green. Head black underneath, above grossly punctured; eyes reddish-brown; antennae brown-black; nose and a little reflexed with a anteriorly subemarginate ; prothorax triple posterior sinus, grossly but not thickly punctured, sides luteous : scutellum an isosceles triangle, impunctured : elytra, in some lights, in others with a shade of at the base but not luteous, green ; grossly thickly punctured, the remainder of the elytrum is acuducted like net

work disk : at ; longitudinally depressed podex dusky, luteous the apex, 214 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

four basilar underneath with a with triangular, white, spots ; abdomen double series of triangular white spots on each side, the outer ones elon-

: sides of the breast mesosternum gated hairy ; suborbicular, hairy ; legs luteous tarsi and base of the brown-black. beautiful ; cubits, [This insect, now included in the genus Euryomia Burm.,is taken occasionally, but not commonly, in Ontario.] 1 86. Trichius Bigsbii Kirby. —Length of body 7 lines. Taken in near Lake St. Dr. -Jganada, Clair, by Bigsby. [137.] This species exhibits the habit and general aspect of T. fasciatus, but it is larger and less hairy. Body obovate, black, covered more or less with hairs. Head nose tawny longish quadrangular ; reflexed, black at the emarginate ; antennae and palpi luteous, tip ; prothorax trapezoidal, narrowest anteriorly, sides rounded or subobtusangular, pos- with obsolete sinus near each scutellum rounded teriorly an angle ; short,

at the : as it were with a bloom luteous apex elytra without hairs, covered ; with a black margin and nine black spots—viz. one large one at the shoulders, seven in the disk arranged transversely 2, 3, 2, and one larger than the re^t on the tumour the humeral and are apical ; apical spots

glossy : three tawny-yellow mealy spots, the intermediate one straight and

longitudinal, and the lateral ones sinuated and oblique, mark the podex : the tibiae tarsi of four anterior are cubit and the legs deep ferruginous ; bidentate, [Synonymous with Gxorimus maculosus Knoch. Taken, but rarely, in Canada.] — — 187. Trichius assimilis Kirby. Length of body 4^ 5 lines.

Taken in Lat. . in Nova Scotia Hall and in Massachusetts 65 ; by Capt. ; by Dr. Harris. [138.] Body obovate, black, covered more or less with long yellowish hairs. nose stalk of the antennae Head punctured ; reflexed, emarginate ;

knob black : less testaceous, scape and ; palpi dusky prothorax punctured,

hairy in the disk, not channelled : elytra black, very short, depressed next the suture with an intermediate ridge; at the base is a' large pale-yellow

spot common to both elytra, from which run a pair of narrow, white, mealy bands, which nearly reach the external margin, and a white mealy stripe adjoining the suture also runs from the same spot to the apex of the

elytrum : the podex is covered with long yellowish hairs, so thick on the sides as almost to conceal the oblong white mealy spot common to the black. subgenus ; legs N. B. —In the specimen taken in the Expedition, the white mealy stripe next the suture appears to have been rubbed off and and is replaced THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 5

by a continuation of the pale spot. [Previously described as T. affinis Gory. Taken in Canada.] 188. Trichius rotundicollis Kirby. —Length of body 5^2 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. black Body obovate, ; covered, particularly underneath, with longish hairs. Llead nose pale very thickly punctured ; reflexed, emarginate ; stalk of the antennae, excluding the scape, testaceous : prothorax subor- with the of a circle taken out next the head bicular, segment ; very thickly with short hairs at the side of punctured, channelled, sprinkled yellowish ; each of the four angles is a mealy-white spot : the elytra next the lateral margin have two transverse mealy-white streaks or bands, which are continued towards the suture by a broader, naked, ferruginous, obscure band; just below the scutellum, on each elytrum, is another mealy stripe, and parallel with the suture is an obscure, naked, ferruginous one : podex

with the it is hairy ordinary mealy pale spots very conspicuous ; sculptured with transverse undulated lines : cubits robust with two stout teeth : a mealy spot marks the base of the posterior legs. [Synonymous with T. piger Fabr. : taken commonly in Ontario.] 189. Trichius viridans Kirby. — Length of body 4| lines. A single specimen taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. In the markings of its elytra this species agrees precisely with that last described, but the upper side of the body, especially the head and pro- is the latter is of a different less thorax, green ; shape and thickly punctured and the cubit and its teeth are less robust : the also is more ;" podex hairy. These can scarcely, all of them, be mere sexual distinctions. It seems intermediate between T. rotundicollis and T. viridulus. [A variety of T. affinis Gory.] — [140.] 190. Trichius rugosus Kirby. —Length of body 10^ 13 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. Mac Culloch and Capt. Hall.

r Body rather glossy, dark pitch-colour, naked above with a few scattered hairs on the underside and on the legs. Head above plane, thickly covered with impressions and punctures that anastomose and run into each other, in some specimens leaving here and there some elevated, levigated, narrow spaces : nose anteriorly transverse, reflexed : prothorax with a abbreviated channel sides longitudinal posteriorly ; obtusangular ; surface covered, less thickly in the disk, with large, and often confluent, punctures : scutellum an isosceles triangle, channelled, with a few scattered large punctures on each side : elytra indistinctly farrowed, confluently and irregularly wrinkled, wrinkles marked with shallow indistinct punctures, 216 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

interstices elevated : cubit acutely tridentate : podex transversely irregularly acuducted. [This is a description of the female of Osmoderma scabra Dej., a species quite common in Ontario.] 191. Trichius foveatus Kirby. —Length of body 11^ lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. Near the preceding species, but perfectly distinct. Body nearly naked, somewhat glossy, of a dark pitch-colour. Nose and front between the eyes with a very deep and large impression, the bed of which is acuducted in circles with a in the centre of each the rest of the minute puncture ; head is above the bed of the antennae the front connuently punctured ; rises into a rather lofty levigated prominence : the prothorax is shaped like that of G rugosus, but is rather less obtusangular, the channel is deeper, with its sides more elevated, and there -are one or two slight between it and the the on the disk are impressions margin ; punctures rather more numerous : the elytra are paler than the rest of the body and a little bronzed, the wrinkles of the surface are more vermiform than in the species just named, without any punctures, and the^ appearance of furrows is less distinct : the is and acuducted podex distinctly punctured scarcely ; and the cubit is sinuated rather than dentated, the three prominences being extremely obtuse. [A description of the male of Osmoderma scabra Dej.] [141.] 192. Platycerus piceus Web. —Length of body 6 lines. A single specimen taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland- house.

[142.] Body dark piceous, rather glossy, thickly punctured. Nose very retuse, or rather with a large sinus : mandibles shorter than the head, acute, armed on their inner side with a stout tooth with the segment of a circle taken out of it antennae chestnut : with the lateral ; pale prothorax reflexed disk im- margin obtusangular, subcrenate, and ; longitudinally punctured, and obsoletely channelled : scutellum channelled, impunctured : elytra furrowed : cubit serrulate and denticulate, two sharp teeth longer than the rest at the tarsi chestnut. This is the smallest of apex ; species the stag-beetle tribe. [Placed, with a mark of interrogation, as a synonym of Platycerus dcpressus Lee. This specific name is preoccupied by Mc- Leay's Ceruchus piceus. P. Depresses is taken in Canada.] — 193. Passalus interruptus Linn. —Length of body 1^ 1 h inch. Many taken in the journey from New York to Cumberland-house. Body black or piceous, underneath sometimes rufo-piceous, impunctured, glossy. Head with a crooked horn between the eyes pointing THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 7

towards the mouth, and a triangular elevation adjoining each eye on the inner side labrum with a sinus mandibles with three teeth at the ; deep ; one in the middle of the side knob of the antennae extremity, and upper ; consisting of three hairy joints, the outer one thicker than the others and

: side near the base curved prothorax channelled, impressed on each ; under a powerful lens several scattered very minute punctures may be discovered on its surface the or undersides of the are ; ora, prothorax, likewise soft with hairs : furrowed furrows punctured, and tawny elytra ;

: cubit intermediate tibiae on punctured many-toothed ; densely bearded, the outside, with tawny hairs.

The bent or nodding horn on the head of the species here described has been taken for a sexual character but I am inclined to generally ; regard this as a mistaken notion. Specimens thus circumstanced, as far as I have been able to ascertain, have hitherto been found only in North

America : while those with a tuberculated head are found in various parts of South America, in the East and West Indies : and I have one in my cabinet from New Holland. Eleven specimens of the former were collected in the Expedition, varying in size, and not a single one of the latter. [Generally known by the Fabrician name of P. cornutus. Taken frequently in the southern and western parts of Ontario.]

MEETING OF THE LONDON BRANCH.

The regular monthly meeting of the London branch of the Entomo- logical Society of Ontario, was held on Friday evening, the 15th inst, at the residence of Mr. Saunders—the President, Mr. C. Chapman, in the chair.

After the usual routine business was disposed of, the recent death of one of the active members of the Society was referred to : that of Mr. B Billings, of Ottawa. His loss was deeply regretted, and the following resolution of condolence and : — — sympathy unanimously passed Resolved. That we have heard, with deep regret and sorrow, of the loss of one of our active members by death : the late B. Billings, Esq., of Ottawa, a man who, by his generous bearing towards his fellow-labourers, and his own active work in Entomological science, has won for him the esteem while we feel loss which our has highest ; and, sincerely the Society 2 IS THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

sustained in his removal, we tender our warmest sympathies to his be- reaved family in their severe affliction. Resolved. —That a copy of the above Resolution be forwarded to the widow of the deceased, and that it be also published in the Canadian Entomologist.

Mr. W. Saunders exhibited the following interesting insects :— i st. Five specimens of unnamed Coleoptera belonging to the family Cerambycidce, from the collection of R. V. Rogers, Esq., Kingston, all of which were new to the members present, among them a Lepiura, a Clytus, and an Elaphidion.

2nd. A dipterous insect, from the collection of Mr. G. J. Bowles, Quebec, probably Trypeta Canadensis, Loew, which he has found injuring " the fruit of both the red and white currant. Mr. Bowles says: I got a number of the infested currants when the larvae were about full grown, but owing to their being kept too dry, I did not succeed in raising many specimens. They enter the currants while the latter are green, and a little round black scar in the side, shows where they made their way in. The grub is white, and about .30 in. long when full grown. The currants ripen prematurely, and, generally, begin to decay, and drop to the ground.

1" think the larva goes into the ground to pupate. Only one made its cocoon, out of those I gathered, and it was made loose in the box. I have seen them only in one garden, where I met with them several years

ago, and again last summer, but there they were very plentiful. I should say that one currant out of every five or six had a grub in it."

3rd. An ichneumon, parasitic on Tortrix rosaeeana, which Mr. Saun- ders has found to infest it very commonly. One point worthy of notice

in relation to it is its size. The single larva of the fly almost fills the body

of the caterpillar, and yet the latter goes on actively feeding, and grows to maturity, without manifesting any symptoms of inconvenience. When about ready to enter the chrysalis state, the occupant eats its way out of the body of its victim, which shrinks up and dies, and the parasite spins a cocoon differing in character from that of the Tortrix, but containing a pupa nearly as large. The species has not yet been determined. 4th. Another ichneumon, a parasite also on a little green leaf-roller, undetermined, which has been found attacking the gooseberry in great numbers, and is very destructive. Unlike that previously mentioned, this several are from each of the fly is quite small, and specimens produced larvae of the Tortrix. The cocoon of the parasite was also shown. It is small, oval, and of a dark brown colour.

. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 219

5th. A handsome, undetermined Tortrix, with brown fore-wings, powdered with metallic scales, and which Mr. Saunders reports to be quite in a locality common J near London.

6th. A small beetle, a Sitona, closely allied to, if not identical, with panacea ; found in large numbers in a bottle of powdered carraway seeds. Specimens of the dead larvae were found along with the perfect insect, but they were too much dried up and discoloured to admit of description. In the pupal condition, the insect occupies a small oval chamber in the powder, from which the beetle escapes at maturity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

Collection of Coleoptera. —We beg to acknowledge, with many thanks, the receipt of a box of Coleoptera from the Rev. N. D. St. Cyr, Seminaire de P. trust that our Nicolet, Q. ; we esteemed correspondent Vv'ill accept our apologies for having so long delayed to notice them. Our time is so much with the various and duties that engrossedO multipliedJ. have of late devolved upon us, that we find it impossible to be punctual with our correspondence, or indeed to maintain it at all as we should like. We trust, however, that our present labours will be diminished before long, and that then we may hope once more to obtain the good graces of our friends, which, we fear, we must by this time have lost in many cases by

our apparent neglect. M. St. Cyr, in his gift to the Society's Cabinet, has included 247 specimens of Coleoptera, belonging to 71 different species— many of them rare and interesting. They reached us in very good order indeed, with only the almost inevitable loss of a few antenna?. As our correspondent writes in French, we may perhaps be pardoned for depart- ing from our rule, and quoting his very kind and flattering expressions " regarding our Society and this publication : — Je m'empresse de saisir cette occasion pour nous feliciter du succes tres remarquable que vous

avez obtenu : la Societe est florissante, et le Canadian Entomologist, toujours attendu avec impatience, nous arrive toujours rempli d'articles extremement interessants sur cette belle science. Je ne crains pas de le dire votre Journal peut rivaliser avec honneur, avec les publications du meme genre faites aux Etats-Unis. La forme, le fond, tout y'est irre- prochable."

Vespa Crabro. —We are very much obliged indeed to our correspondent, Mr. James Angus, of West Farms, N. Y., for some specimens (5 males, 5 females, and 6 neuters), of this most formidable-looking hornet. They form a valued addition to our cabinet. 220 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c. Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds' Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates of which I should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. — Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass.

An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. — Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street, Boston, Mass.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Collecting Tour in Labrador.—The undersigned intends to leave next spring, in the first vessel from Quebec, on a collecting tour in of all will collected and as Labrador. Insects orders be ; many species will be, no doubt, unique, undetermined or new to science, those who are anxious to obtain specimens of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera will please communicate with me as early as possible. Terms in accordance with number and specialties.—Wm. Couper, Montreal.

Cork and Pins. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of Klaeger's pins, Nos. 1,2,5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500.

Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 being deficient, however, and out of

print. Price $1.25 (gold) each.

List of Canadian Coleoptera.—Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000, for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Canada. —E. B. Reed, London, Ont.; W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal,

P.Q.; G. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.; J. Johnston, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States.—The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; No. J. Y. Green, Newport, Vt; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, 137 Broadway, New York. %\t Canadian (Bntomotogbl

VOL. III. LONDON, ONT., DECEMBER, 187 1. No. 12

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA.

BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KY.

Continued from Pasre 209.

LAVERNA.

This genus may be distinguished by the tufts of raised scales on the anterior wings. The antennae are more than half as long as the wings, simple, inserted just above the eyes. Head and face smooth, with appressed scales. Face rather broad. Tongue very short. No maxillary labial around the sides of the head the palpi ; palpi curving upwards, tips approaching each other on the vertex, the third joint shorter than the second, which is laterally compressed and slightly clavate.

For a fuller diagnosis, see Dr. Clemens' Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. P/ii/a., i860, p. I/O.

L. cephalonthiella. N. sp. and face white above Tongue ; palpi grayish-white beneath, gray ; antennae gray, annulate with dark brown, tipped with white, and with

four or five very distinct white annulations near the tip. Thorax and wings dark bluish-gray, flecked with numerous white scales and specks. are with black have an ochreous The wings irregularly spotted velvety ; patch at the base of the inner margin, not very distinct, and a larger one upon the disc, and an irregular indistinctly outlined fasciae nearly crossing the wing, just before the third costal streak, and dusted with golden in the middle, and with white upon the costa. The ochreous patches are not distinct in outline, and seem to be composed of confluent streaks. Two rather large tufts of elevated scales within the inner margin, the first velvety black, the second ochreous, margined with velvety black, and larger than the first. The first tuft is before, and the second behind the

middle. Three velvety black, slightly oblique costal streaks, the first before the the the mid- small, placed middle ; second larger, behind dle the ciliae. ; and third and largest just before the In some lights, 222 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

the tufts glow with crimson and purple hues, and the ochreous patches assume the form of indefinite wide bands. There is an oblique costal streak of rather dense white dusting before the apex, and an opposite dorsal one. Three dark brown hinder marginal lines, one at the base of the ciliae, the second before the apex, and the third at the apex, of the ciliae. Dorsal ciliae dark slate-colour, with eight or ten distinct white specks near t/ie base. Posterior wings and ciliae slate-colour. Abdomen slate-colour, with crimson and purplish reflections. But the colours of the entire insect vary somewhat with the direction of the light. ex. inch. Alar about yj> Common. Kentucky.

' The larva mines the leaves of the Button Bush ( Cephalanthus occiden- ialis). I found them early in October, and a few days afterwards, they became pupae, and within a week thereafter, produced the imago. It pupates on the ground, and the imago most probably hybernates. The mine and larva resemble those of the genus Antispi/a, but the larva is reddish. This is the only Laverna that I have found, and is a very handsome insect. aspidiscAj Clemens. Head smooth, with appressed scales. Tongue naked, short. Labial palpi short, much separated. Antennae about one half as long as the wings. Size, very small. (This brief, generic diagnosis is condensed from Dr. Clemens' account published in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., i860, v. 11., corrected at p. 200. Dr. Clemens errs, however, in the statement that there are no maxillary palpi. They are not visible without dissection, but upon dissection, minute one-jointed palpi are perceptible). larvae are smaller than the first The cylindrical, depressed ; head segment. No true legs nor prolegs, but in their places, and also on some of the other segments, are what appear to be discs, which act as suckers. It is doubtful, however, if they do so act, as they appear on the dorsal as well as ventral surfaces. They are miners through their whole larval existence, and when ready to pupate, they cut out a minute case, and, sewing together the edges, let themselves down by a thread, and, notwith- standing their apparent want of means of locomotion, they manage to transport themselves and their cases frequently through long grass, or over seemingly impracticable routes, for many rods, before spinning the silken " byssus," by which the case is attached to a tree, or fence, or blade of grass, for the pupal repose. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 223

i. A, splendoriferella, Clem. Loc. tit.

Lyonetia Saccate/la, Packard, Guide, p. 355, and plate 8, Jigs. 18, a a?id b. " Dr. Clemens found this perfect little gem," as Dr. Packard truly calls it, mining the leaves of Haw trees (Crataegus) in August, and cutting out its cases, preparatory to pupating, in the latter pari of August and in September. He also found a similar larva mining the leaves of the Wild Cherry tree (Primus serotina) at the same time, but was uncertain as to the species. I have bred it from the mines, and find it to be this species. I have also bred it from the leaves of the Sweet Scented Crab (Pyrus coronaria), and from those of the Apple. At linden Grove Cemetery, at this place, it occurs by the million. In that Cemetery (so called because there are two or three in I only Linden saplings it, suppose), there are a great many Wild Cherry trees, and in August, scarcely a leaf can be seen without a from two to five or six in in mine, and, usually, each ; and September, after they begin to descend, to pass under one of the trees is like sticking one's head into a cobweb. A little later, the trees and fences are plastered over with their little cases.

Dr. Packard's account of his Lyonetia saccaiella is brief, as it must of " necessity be, in such a work as the Guide," but I think there can be no doubt that it is identical with this species, which was first described by Dr. Clemens in the "Proceedings" loc. tit. I am led to this conclusion by the following facts : —

The species of Lyonetia are not case bearers, but leave their mines to pupate on a nidus on the ground. The antennae in Lyonetia are about as long as the wings, while Dr. Packard's figure represents them, as they are in this species, about one half as long as the wings. The description of the species by Dr. Packard is so accurate for this species (considering its brevity), that it is not probable that two species belonging to different should resemble each other so and he at the same genera, closely ; found, time, upon the same food-plant, and with the extraordinary "mimicry" carried so far, that one of the species, belonging to a genus in which there are no other case bearers, assumes the case bearing habit in imitation of the other. Such a case of mimicry would delight Messrs. Wallace & Bates beyond measure.

Dr. Packard evidently supposed that his species was a case bearer throughout its larval existence. But the fact which he states, that the case is made of the cuticle of leaves, shews that it has once been a miner. He found it on the leaves of the Apple, in the latter part of August and in 224 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

September—just the period when A. sple?idoriferella \s cutting out its cases, crawling over the leaves, and fixing its byssus to the limbs and trunks, as Dr. Packard's species did.

On the other hand, some of the minuter markings, towards the apex of the wing, are not mentioned by Dr. Packard, nor shown in the figure. The form of the case in the figure is by no means accurate, though that of the larva is. And the alar ex. is stated to be .20 inch, whilst I have never found it to exceed two lines.

2. A. lutifiuella, Clem. Op. cit., p. 209.

I have found the larvae mining the leaves of Hickory trees, but have not yet succeeded in raising them from the mines. According to Dr.

Clemens' description, it is a little larger than A: sple7idorij"erella, and resembles more closely the next described species. Kentucky and Penn- sylvania. Not common.

3. A. Ella. N. sp.

Head silvery white, tinged with yellowish. Antennae pale fuscous beneath thorax and about the basal one-third of the above, silvery ; wings, silvery gray, remainder of the wings golden brown or dark brown, according to the light, sometimes appearing reddish golden. A rather large costal white streak in the dark part of the wing, just before the middle, with an indistinct reddish or yellowish spot before it, within the costal margin, and a triangular white dorsal streak nearly opposite, but a little before, and a costal faint yellowish indistinct spot behind it. A triangular, velvety, black, apical spot with its base towards the ciliae, a small silvery spot at its apex, and a narrow silvery line on each of its sides; i ciliae silvery. Under surface and legs silvery white. Alar ex. about inch. (Smaller than A. splendoriferella). Larva and food plant unknown. A single specimen found in its case attached to the bark of an Oak tree.

Named in honor of a lady friend, who, like our "micro," is both "petite" and pretty.

Dr. Clemens mentions the larvae of two other species, one of which mines the leaves of the Ironwood ( Ostrya Virgi/iica), and the other mines different species of Willows (Salix). I have met with both mines, but, like Dr. Clemens, I have never seen the imagines, unless A. Ella should prove to be one of them.

These are the only known species of the genus. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 225

NOTES ON LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV^.

BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT.

In November, 1867, I received from my esteemed friend, the late B. Billings, of Ottawa, several specimens of the larva of that very rare arctian, A. parthenos, which he had reared from eggs laid by a captured female in a box. They were apparently about two-thirds grown, and ready to for the winter a with liybernate ; common practice many species belonging to this interesting family of moths. The length of this larva was 1 ^ inches, body cylindrical. Head medium sized, bilobed, black and shining, with a few brownish hairs.

Body above, black, with transverse rows of shining tubercles, which were rather large, and of a dull brownish-white colour, excepting a few on the anterior which were black and from each of them was segments, j emitted a tuft of brown hairs. The hairs on the anterior segments and around the base of the were rather short the others and body, ; long silky, and of a slightly paler brown colour, recurved backwards. Stigmata elongated, and of a yellowish orange colour. The under surface was black, with a slight brownish tinge, 5th, 6th, nth and 12th segments, each with a transverse row of black tubercles in continuation of those above, each tubercle emitting several short dark brown hairs. Feet black, ringed with dull whitish-brown, prolegs black with without, tipped greenish-brown ; within, greenish-brown. I buried these larvae a short distance underground, stowed away carefully in a box with some loose pieces of chip, with the hope that they

would survive the winter. In this, however, I was disappointed, for on disinterring the box very early in Spring, I found them all dead.

Stegania pustularia Gueriee. —The larva of this little delicate-looking geometric moth, feeds on the Maple. It is common in our neighbourhood, and may be readily got, in season, by striking the branches of the trees a sharp blow, when it drops at once part way to the ground, remaining suspended by a silken thread, by means of which, when danger passes, it can regain its position on the tree. It is found full grown about the middle of June, enters the chrysalis state within a few days afterwards, and produces the moth early in July. When full grown, the larva measures about five-eights of an inch in length, body cylindrical. 226 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

Head medium sized, rather flat in front, slightly bilobed, and of a pale green colour, with a few very fine hairs, invisible without a magnifying scattered over its surface mandibles with black. lens, ; tipped Body above bluish-green, with thickly set longitudinal stripes of whitish and yellowish. A double whitish dorsal line, with bordering lines of yellowish-white, neither of which are unbroken, but are formed of a succession of short lines and dots. Below these, on each side, are two or three imperfect white lines, made up of short streaks, and much fainter than those the dorsal line between the bordering ; spaces segments yellowish. The skin all over the body is much wrinkled and folded.

The under surface is green, with a tinge of yellowish between the feet with brown. segments ; yellowish-green, prolegs green, faintly tipped The moth is of a pure white colour, with three or four reddish-brown spots on the costal margin of each of the fore-wings, and with a faint curved line of the a little the middle it same, crossing them beyond ; expands i inch, This species was kindly determined for me by Dr. A. S. Packard, of Salem, Mass.

Metrocampa perlata Gucnec. —This pretty white geometer, which is

larger than the last species referred to, I have bred from a larva which was found feeding on willow, and which entered the chrysalis state before I had an opportunity of describing it. ACRONVCTA OBL'INITA S?)l.

6° Abbot. —This insect, which is admirably represented in all its is stages in fig. 39, well described by Mr. C. V. Riley, " in his Third Annual Report on the Noxious Insects of Il- linois." In addition to the

food plants there given, I have found the larva quite common on the cultivated Strawberry, and also on the Wild Rasp- berry. My specimens were taken early in September, and produced the imago about the fig. 39- middle of the following June. The larva is very handsome, while the moth is of a very plain grey colour. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 227

Euphanessa (Nudaria) Mendica Walk.— A. female of this species deposited eggs on the sides of a box, in which it was confined, on the 2nd the larvce and 3rd of July. They were of a bright red colour, and young were hatched from them on the 8th of the same month. They were extremely active, about one-tenth of an inch long, with cylindrical bodies, and true geometers in their larval characteristics and mode of progression.— The following description was taken at this stage in their history :

Head large, bilobed, dark brown. Body above dull brownish-green, hairs. with a slight pinkish tinge, and with many short black and brown Under surface similar to the upper; feet and prolegs—of which latter there were two pairs only —greenish and semi-transparent. I used my utmost endeavours to procure food for these larvae, and introduced into the box in which they were confined, leaves belonging to many different families of plants, but failed to find anything they would eat. In the course of two or three days, they all died of starvation.

INSECTS OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF BRIT1SFI AMERICA.

COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.

From Kirbys Fauna Boreali-Americana : Insecia.

(.Continued from pa^e 217.)

FAMILY ELATERID/E.

Campylus denticornis, — of 6 lines. [145. J 194. Kirby. Length body Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. This is the American representative of C. mesoritelas, from which it is

sufficiently distinguished by its toothed antennae and longer prothorax. with decumbent hairs. Flead Body linear, black, hairy pale punctured ; antennae longer than the prothorax, filiform, with all the joints, except the scape, pedicel, and terminal one, terminating at their internal extremity in

a prominent tooth, less conspicuous in the two lower ones : upper-lip, and

nose which is reflexed and overhangs the mouth, yellow : prothorax channelled, punctured, quadrangular, with the anterior angles rounded, and the and in a tooth or sides posterior diverging terminating sharp prominence ;

rather limb : scutellum subcordate : and wavy ; yellow elytra minutely furrows marked thickly punctured, slightly furrowed, thickly punctured ; reach the there is also a with a narrow yellow stripe which does not apex ; the short yellow streak on the shoulders : base of the tibiae, claw-joint of 228 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

" tarsi, and claws, yellow. [" Lake Superior, Maine and Pennsylvania (Le Conte). We have specimens taken in the neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ont.] [146.] 195. Pedetes Brightwelli, Kirby. —Length of body 6 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. more slender than that of the testaceous Body elongate, type, ; hairy, with decumbent hairs Head an- pale ; thickly punctured. dusky-red ; tennae longer than the prothorax, slenderer than usual in the tribe, scarcely serrated, with the four last joints rather slenderer than the rest ;

and nose a deal reflexed : con- eyes large hemispherical ; good prothorax

darker in the disk : testaceous vex, channelled, dusky-red, elytra pale ; furrows interstices with furrowed, deeply punctured ; minutely punctured scattered punctures : legs paler than the rest of the body, and nearly yellow. [Included now in the genus Athous Esch. Le Conte, in his " Revision of the Elateridas of the United States," (Amer. Phil. Trans, vol. x., p. 425), states that this species occurs in the "Middle and Southern States, not rare. The specimen described by Kirby seems to have been a pale coloured variety of this species, which varies much in colour. In the male the thorax is constricted before the posterior angles, which are slightly in the sides do not divergent ; female, the are straight and the angles the dorsal channel is is diverge j never deep, and frequently wanting."

subgenus asaphes Kirby.

Body wider. Nose not overhanging the mouth. Rhinarium attenuated in the middle. Prothorax short, posterior angles carinated. I am doubtful whether this should not be considered as forming a distinct genus. The general form is very different. But as the tarsi have suckers on the second and third joints, till more species are discovered, I have given it as only a subgenus of Pedetes. " [Dr. Le Conte (Am. Phil. Trans, x. 449) states that although but one species of this genus is described by Kirby and another by Germar, I find that several of our Elaters possess characters which require them to be associated with his type. They seem to fonn a natural group approaching most nearly to Corymbites, and indeed differing from that genus only in the structure of the tarsi. The second and third joints of the tarsi are the dilated beneath into a short spongy lobe : the first joint is as long as

second and third together, and usually spongy at the tip : the fourth joint is small and narrow, received upon the third, and is sometimes also

spongy beneath : the fifth joint is elongate with simple claws."] 196. Pedetes (Asaphes) ruficornis Kirby. —Length of body 7^ lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Llall. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 229

down. Body black, rather glossy, minutely punctured, downy with pale rufous or labrum and mandibles Antennae, mouth, and palpi dusky-rufous ;

not the mouth ; piceous ; nose rounded, not reflexed, overshadowing

antennae serrated on the inner side in the middle, last joint acuminated : prothorax short, widest behind, very obsoletely channelled, sides submar-

carinated : or gined ; posterior angles dentiform, strongly elytra piceous, in the rufo-piceous, very slightly furrowed with oblong punctures furrows,

interstices minutely punctured : margin of the abdomen and of the penultimate segment, rufous. [Previously described as Elater memnonius Herbst. in taken also in Quite common Canada ; Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama (Le Conte).] — of lines. [148]. 197. Perimecus fulvipes Herbst. Length body 7 Taken in Canada by Dr. Bigsby. colour obscured nu- Body black, punctured, glossy ; gloss and by merous decumbent pale hairs. Antennae pale chestnut, with the third

joint double the length of the second : posterior angles of the prothorax interstices carinated : elytra with nine rows of large and deep punctures,

minutely punctured : legs pale chestnut. The only difference that I can discover between the American and European specimens, is in the length of the third joint of the antennae, is than the second and this which in the latter scarcely longer ; may probably be a sexual distinction. [Belongs to the genus Melanotus Esch., ' and is synonymous with M. ( Cratotiychus) castanipes Payk.] Se- 19S. Perimecus communis Gyll. —Length of body 6V3 lines.

veral specimens taken at Cumberland-house, Lat. 54 . Very similar to the preceding species, but much smaller. Body chestnut-coloured, darker or lighter in different specimens, punctured, glossy,

: hairy : third joint of the antennae twice the length of the second pro-

thorax thickly punctured, obsoletely channelled, chiefly behind : elytra, antennae, and legs rather paler than the rest of the body, the former sculp- " tured as in the last species. [Taken in Canada. Abundant as far as to Melanotus. Nebraska" (Le Conte). Belongs the genus J — of lines. [149.J 199. Perimecus similis Kirby. Length body 6^

Taken in Lat. 54 . I this as a of the last but besides should have given merely variety ; its blacker body, the punctures of the prothorax are not nearly so

numerous, and there is no appearance of its being channelled : the breast is chestnut. to the Melanotus [Belongs genus •.] — of 200. Ctenicerus Kendalli Kirby. Plate ii., fig. 7. Length

body 7 lines. A single specimen taken in Lat. 65 . 230 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

obscured Body black, thickly punctured ; gioss by inconspicuous hairs. with two between the nose Head impressions eyes ; subemarginate antennas shorter than the serrated : ; prothorax, prothorax longer than wide, channelled, posterior angles diverging, very acute, carinated : scutellum suboval, covered with white hairs : elytra rather wider than the testaceous with a black discoidal blotch at the prothorax, tip ; slightly furrowed with punctures in the furrows ; interstices punctured : legs piceous. This species, which is a female, is related to Ct. cuprcus, but is much wider in proportion to its length. [Belongs to the genus Co?y??ibites Latr. "One specimen found on the north shore of Lake Superior. Mr. Randall found it in Maine" (Le Conte).]

[150.] 201. Elater (Aphotistus) .-eripennis Kirby. —Length of body 6 lines. Several taken in Lat. 54 . Cumberland-house.

Body very black, without hairs, underneath very minutely punctured. Head thickly and confluently punctured; nose with two slight impressions: antennas shorter than the prothorax, third joint longer than the fourth : prothorax very thickly punctured, obsoletely channelled, longer than wide, rather narrowest before, sides curving, posterior angles acute, diverging, carinated : scutellum : or heart-shaped elytra bronzed, green-bronzed ; furrows interstices furrowed, punctured ; convex, minutely punctured ; tips acute : a discoidal rufous spot or band, and sometimes two, marks the underside of the abdomen : legs piceous. This species is the American representative of E. impressus, from which it differs principally in being smaller, narrower in proportion, with the head and prothorax not at all bronzed, and the latter more thickly " without in punctured and any gloss. [Not uncommon Canada ; very at found Randall in Maine'' abundant Lake Superior ; by (Le Conte). Belongs to the genus Corymbites Latr.] FAMILY BUPRESTID.E.

[151.] 202. Buprestis (Anoplis) rusticorum Kirby. —Length of body g}{ lines. A single specimen taken in Lat. 54 .

Body black-bronzed, punctured, glossy. Head with a levigated ele- in the centre the vation between eyes, channelled behind ; marked with two yellow spots underneath on the cheeks, a triangular one adjoining the on their inner and two dots of the same colour between them eyes side, ; prothorax grossly punctured with levigated spaces, the discoidal one longi- the scutellum is an sides at the tudinal ; above impression ; converging base of the anterior with a : prothorax ; angles yellow stripe elytra slightly THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 231

furrowed with minute in the furrows rounded numerous very punctures ; at the : interstices with scattered those of the apex punctures ; second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth furrows elevated so as to form an obtuse rid.

This species is so similar to B. rustica, that at first I regarded it as a that insect is smaller has a distinct merely variety, however ; the head longitudinal channel : the prothorax is less thickly punctured, and the sides, at the base, converge less but more suddenly : the elytra are truncated, or rather premorsc, at the apex with a few minute denticles : the mandibles have a yellow spot, and there are none on the ventral segments of the abdomen, except the anal one : the anal teeth also are obsolete.

' ; fBelongs to the genus AncylocJiira Esch. Oregon and Washington Ter-

J ritories, abundant" (Le Conte).]

[152.] 203. Buprestis (Anoplis) Paganorum Kirby. —Length of body 7^ lines. A single specimen taken at Cumberland-house, Lat. 54 .

Very like the species last described. Body of the same colour, head, anterior angles of the prothorax, and underside of the abdomen similarly spotted, except that in the former there are no frontal dots. The prothorax however is differently shaped, being somewhat constricted anter-

with the sides towards the base it is also channelled the iorly, rounded, ; sculpture of the elytra is similar, but they are more attenuated and truncated at the end, like B. A. rusfica, and armed with three minute denticles. [Probably belongs also to AncylocJiira ; unknown to Dr. Le Conte.] 204. Buprestis (Anoplis) Nutalli Kirby. —Length of body 7^2 —8 lines. Several specimens taken in Lat. 65 . and on the Rocky Mountains.

This species appears to be related to B. cdoguttata. Body black- underneath with a few decumbent hairs. bronzed, glossy, punctured ; pale Head confluently punctured with several irregular connected levigated labial on the lower of the spaces ; palpi, spot mandibles, labrum, margin eyes, and frontal spots, yellow : prothorax bisinuate both at the apex and with several lateral base, grossly punctured levigated spaces ; margin, of the except the base, and part anterior, yellow ; elytra slightly furrowed, furrows : interstices convex and the sutural punctured alternately plane ;

is at the the flat ones are most one convex and forked base ; punctured, but the convex ones in the disk of the are three more grossly ; elytra 232 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

equidistant irregular yellow spots arranged longitudinally, and nearer the on the second a line of confluent dots the of base, ridge, yellow ; apex the elytra is truncated : [153] on each of the ventral segments of the abdomen the sides are marked with a triangular orange-coloured spot, those on the anal segment being larger and irregular : the coxae also and underside of the thighs are partly of the same colour.

Variety B. Without the yellow line of confluent dots at the base of

the elytra, and with the spots arranged longitudinally indistinct.

C. With all the ventral orange spots large and irregular. D. Front with a large central spot. Base of the belly bluish. E. Elytra with only yellow spots. Front as in D. F. With only one distinct yellow spot.

The most certain distinction of this varying species is the alternately convex and plane interstice of the furrows of the elytra. [Belongs to " Ancylochira. Lake Superior, one female"' (Le Conte).]

205. Buprestis (Anoplis) lineata Fabr. —Length of body 9 lines. Taken in Nova Scotia by Capt. Hall. Body above black-bronzed, underneath bronzed, punctured. Head below and : mandibles black with a basilar mouth orange orange spot ; front dotted with the same colour vertex chan- obscurely banded and ; nelled : dilated anterior : prothorax posteriorly ; angles deep orange elytra

furroAved : furrows interstices slightly scarcely punctured ; flat, grossly truncated at the with three minute one punctured ; apex and armed teeth, obsolete on each are two obscure the nearly ; elytrum deep orange stripes, outer one diverging towards the base so as to pass below the shoulders, the inner one subinterrupted, widest towards the base, and not reaching the apex : fore-breast anteriorly orange. [Taken in Canada, but not com- " mon. Middle and Southern States, not rare. Varies very much in the fulvous markings of the elytra, which are normally two broad vittse upoi each ; the extreme variation is where the outer vitta is broken into three and the inner into two the anterior are then con- spots, one ; two spots nected by a transverse line forming a hamate spot. The tip of the abdo- in is little the men the male truncate, with a tooth on each side ; in female, it is broadly rounded, but the same teeth are seen. The under surface is dull bronze, with the head and anterior margin of the posternum fulvous'' (Le Conte, Am. Phil. Trans, xi., p. 206). Belongs to A?icyIoc/iira.}

— 8 206. Buprestis (Anoplis) fasciata Fabr-. —Length of body 7

, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 233

lines. in Dr. in Nova Scotia Taken Canada by Bigsby ; B and C by Capt. Hall. a [154.] Body of a lovely brilliant green, punctured underneath with few hairs. Head : antennae bronzed vertex pale confidently punctured ; channelled : prothorax transverse marked before the middle with two transverse and another above the scutellum impressions, just ; grossly

: furrowed furrows interstices con- punctured elytra ; thickly punctured ; with fewer truncated with the in a vex punctures ; apex angles terminating short the middle of the is a rather point ; beyond elytrum broad, especially next the band surrounded a blotch suture, wavy orange by dusky ; beyond this and near the apex is another oblique abbreviated little band of the same colour.

Variety B. Smaller with the bands paler and narrower.

C. With only a single band narrowest next the suture : prothorax without the anterior impressions. [Quite common in many parts of Canada, in al lits variations. We found it abundant at Credit, Ont., but quite rare at Cobourg and Port Hope. Le Conte (he. eit.) states " that it is not rare, especially in the Northern portions of the Atlantic States varies in colour from to and also in the size of the ; green blue, of the of the is truncate markings elytra. The tip of the abdomen % ; in the

Belongs to Anev/oe/iira.]

BOOKS RECEIVED.

First Annual Report on the Noxious Insects of the State of Illinois. By

W. Le Baron, M. D., State Entomologist. Springfield, 111., 187 1. We have been favoured by Mr. Le Baron—the successor of the much lamented Mr. Walsh—with a copy of his first Report as State Entomologist we trust that it is the precursor of a long series during years to come. After some introductory remarks, the author takes up for consideration Insects injurious to the Apple, Pear and Plum trees, the Grape-vine, the Currant, the Potato, the Rose, and the Pine. Among the first mentioned, " he describes a new species, The Lesser Apple Leaf-folder" (Tortrix mativorana), which appears to have been excessively destructive in the

neighbourhood of Lacon, 111.; and gives a full account of the beneficial labours of a Chalcis fly, parasitic upon the Apple Bark-louse. Another 234 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

" new enemy to the horticulturist is figured and described— the Callimor- pha Pear Caterpillar "(C. Lecoiitei Boisd., var. fulvicosta Clemens.) The larva of Aci'onycta superans Guen., he records as affecting the leaves of Plum trees, and gives a full description of its larval and imago states.* " Valuable descriptions are also given of the Four-striped Plant-bug"

( Caps us quadrivittatus Say,), affecting the Currant, and of the "White

Pine Leaf-louse" (Mytilaspis pinifoliae Fitch ).

Xotes on Chalcididce. Parts iii. and iv. By Francis Walker, F. L. S. London, Janson, 187 1. These pamphlets, for which we have to thank the author, contain numerous descriptions, illustrated by occasional woodcuts, of species of Chalcididie from all parts of the world.

; Lc Naturaliste Canadien. Edited by M. L Abbe Provancher (Quebec), has now reached, like ourselves, the close of its third volume. We may congratulate each other upon having survived the most perilous period in the life of a scientific journal, and feel a well assured hope that we may both continue, in our respective ends of the country, to do what we can to promote the study and knowledge of the natural history of the Do- minion. Though designed especially for our French-speaking compatriots, we trust that Le Naturaliste will acquire an extensive circulation also among the Anglo-Saxon portion of the community. Our readers will find in its pages much to interest them of an Entomological character, as well as other departments of Zoology and Botany.

Les Petites Nouvelks Entomologiqucs (A. M. E. Deyrolles fils, 19 Rue de la Monnaie, Paris, France), though sadly interrupted during the siege and subsequent troubles in Paris, was at once resumed upon the cessation of hostilities, and is now conducted with quite as much spirit as formerly. We gladly translate from its pages much that is of more than local interest, from time to time. (We can supply a few copies at $1.25 per annum to our subscribers).

Errata.—On page 163, at the sixteenth line from the top, for "intercepted" read "interrupted;" on page 182, at the third line from " " " the for at bottom, Cuniostoma read Cemiostoma ;" on page 183, the third line from the bottom, and on page 184, at the fourteenth line from the top, for "pupae" read "proper."

* Our specimens of this moth, to which Mr. Le Baron refers, were determined for us Mr. Walker of the British we think the be relied by Museum ; that determination may on, although Guenee's description is so meagre. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 235

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Parasite on Pieris rap^e. —The news of the appearance of an ef- our fective parasite on P. rapce will, we doubt not, be hailed with delight by Lower Canadian friends and the gardeners of the North-Eastern States. Mr. P. S. Sprague, of Boston, Mass., has kindly sent us several specimens, of both sexes, of this new arrival, respecting which he writes as follows : — " The P. rapes chrysalis parasite, mentioned in my communication (Can. Dr. to be Ent., vol. hi., page 158) proves, on examination by Packard, the introduced Pteromalus puparum. My son gathered about fifty of the chrysalids, every one of which was infested, as many many as forty specimens coming from a single one. The female walks over the chrysalis feeling with her antennae for a suitable place to insert her ovipositor, and when found, drills a hole, which takes upon an average one minute in time." [Figure 40 represents the larva and chrysalis of this imported pest.] The following excellent communication by Mr. Sprague's son, who bids fair to become an eminent Entomologist, we copy from the Rural New Yorker : " A New Enemy to the Cabbage Worm.—

Although 1 am a little boy, I think I can write something for the entomological column that will please the old folks. Almost everybody who raises cabbages has had a great many destroyed this year by a little green caterpillar, and I suppose they have

seen a new, white butterfly, called the Pieris rapee, flying around them.

This butterfly lays a little white egg on the leaves, which, in a few days, hatches out a little green caterpillar, which eats until it grows about an inch in then it and hunts some sheltered where length ; goes up place it can go into a chrysalis. I was looking for some chrysalids for my when I saw a little all over them it made a father, fly walking ; by-and-by in little hole the chrysalis to lay its eggs in. This fly is almost one-eighth of an inch it is of a colour. of the flies have long ; golden Some yellow and others have dark ones. have four the is legs, They wings ; body at the there are these flies in a the pointed end ; about fifty of chrysalis ;

chrysalis looks as if it were all right, but if you break it open you will find it full little that in of grubs. This little fly kills so many of the chrysalids a few years the butterflies will not be so common, and cabbages will not be destroyed. —H. W. S., Boston, Mass." 236 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST.

EXCHANGES, &c. Lepidoptera, &c. — I have a collection of Birds' Eggs, Lepidoptera (including some from Florida) and Coleoptora, duplicates .of which I should like to exchange, giving preference to the two first named. — Joseph E. Chase, Lock Box 46, Holyoke, Mass. An American Entomologist, who has made a speciality of Lepidoptera, would like to correspond with collectors in any part of the world. — Address H. K. Morrison, care of E. K. Butler, 68, Pearl-street, Boston, Mass.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Collecting Tour in Labrador.—The undersigned intends to leave next spring, in the first vessel from Quebec, on a collecting tour in Labrador. Insects of all orders will be collected and as ; many species will be, no doubt, unique, undetermined or new to science, those who are anxious to obtain specimens of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera will please communicate with me as early as possible. Terms in accordance with number and specialties. —Wm. Couper, Montreal. Cork and Pins. —We have a good supply of sheet cork of the ordinary thickness, price 16 cents (gold) per square foot; and a full supply of

Klaegefs pins, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6, price 50 cents (gold) per packet of 500. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1 and 2. —We have a few copies left of these volumes—No. 1 of vol. 1 being deficient, however, and out of print. Price $1.25 (gold) each.

List of Canadian Coleoptera. —Price 15 cents each, embracing 55 families, 432 genera, and 1231 species. (For labelling cabinets).

Printed Numbers, in sheets, 1 to 2000, for labelling cabinets. Price 10 cents each set.

These prices are exclusive of cost of transportation, and orders will please state whether the package is to be sent by mail or express.

AGENTS FOR THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Canada.—E. B. Reed, London, Ont.; W. Couper, Naturalist, Montreal,

P.Q.; G. J. Bowles, Quebec, P. Q.; J. Johnston, Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ont. United States. —The American Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem, Mass.; J. Y. Green, Newport, Vt; W. V. Andrews, Room 17, No. 137 Broadway, New York. INDEX TO VOLUME III.

-«-««>-

A x\saphes ruficornis, 228. 126. Ac CENTO"AT ED List of Canadiiin Asopia farinalis, Lepidop- El n. tera 95. Aspidisca fa, sp., 224. 224. Acknowledgments, 219. lucifluella, spltndoriferella, 223. Act of Incorporation, 4. Atomaria 175. Acorn Weevils, 137. atra, Attacns cecropia, 149. Agrotis, Description of, from Canada, 192. Attaênus cylindricus, 175. Alabama, Descriptions of Lepidoptera, pellio, 176. from, 101, 124, 181. Annual Attelides dolichos, 102. " Meeting, 117, 132. Address, 120. B Arctia, New, from Colorado, 187. Artificial Colouring of Lepidoptera, 158. Bent-ham's, Mr., Anniversary Address, 73. Abâxis ribearia, 8. Bethune, Rev. C. J. S., Articles by, 1, 16, Acherontia atropos. 7. 27. 37, 58, 81, 88, 114, 120, 134, 155, 172, Acidalia pannaria, 103. 211, 227. 44 Books " persimilata, 103. Received, 58, 77, 233. purpurissata, 103. Borers, 27. Aciiius mediatus, 89. Bowles, G. J., Articles by, 7, 37, 98, 138. Acronycta nblinita, 220. 144, 179, 201. Butterfly ./Egeria" exitiosa, 22. Pictures, 139. Balaninus tipuliformis, 9. " nasicus, 97, 137. Agabus" assimilis, 31. rectus, 118, 137. bicoior, 30. Boros unicolor. 15. 44 obliteratus. 31. Botys aiiticostalis. 104. 4k phse >pterus, 31. argyralis, 125. 44 44 semipunctatus, 30. ecclesialis, 125. 44 Agrotis brunneicollis, 192. fiavidalis, 104, 126. 44 clandestina, 192. laticlavia, 105. 44 44 depresses, 192. marculeata, 126. 44 notes on larva of . 193. p ectilis, 1U5. 44 Alaria florida, 76. plumbicostalis, 103. 44 Aleochara pallitarsis, 114. veutralis, 125. Amphidasys cognataria, 12. Buprestis fasciata, 232. 44 Amphipyra inornata, 193. lmeata, 232. pyramidoides, 193. nutalli, 231. Anacampsis robinieda, 54, 55, 87, 163, 183. octoguttata, 231. Anisotoma badia, 174. paganorum, 231. 44 Angerona croca>tarH, 9. rustica, 231. 44 Anoplis fasciata. 232. rusticorum, 230. lineata, 232. Byrrhus concolor, 176. 44 nutalli, 231. cvclophorus, ISO. 44 44 paganorum, 231. Kirbyi, 176. 44 44 ru-ticorum, 230. picipes, 176. 44 Aphis cerasi, 13. varius, 187. Aphotistm asripennis, 230. Arctia c " parthenos, 225. Williamsii, 167. Cabbage Worm, an enemy to, 235. albella, 183. Argyromyges Cemiostoma, a new species of, 23. 183. Morrisella, 86, Cham be us, V. T., Articles by, 23, 54, 84, 1 83. Ostensackenella, 108, 127, 146. 161, 182, 205, 221. pseudacaîella, 86, 88. Chicago Fire, 171. quercifoliella, 183. Classification of Moths, 107. robiniella, 54. Codling Moth, the, 26. 183. Uhlerella, 86, Cocoons Made by Snout Beetles, 158. 238 INDEX TO VOLUME III.

Cyclinus assimilis, 91. COLEOPTERA," 15. List of, 105. Cynips q. centricola, 195. Colorado Potato Beetle, Report on, 61. Cytilus varius, 176. New Enemies of, 169. Constitution, 4. D Copper Wm., Articles by, 32, 61, 178. Danais Archippus, Abundance of, in Mas- Caloptenus Dodgei, 168. sachusetts, 157. Calosoma calidum, 49. Danais Archippus, Swarming of, 156. Camptorhina atracaprFa, 190. Pimmock, Geo., Articles by, 15. denticornis, 227. Campylus" Dodge, C. R., Articles by, 167. mesome as, 227. Depressaria p>eudacaciella, 87. 26. " Carpocapsa pomonella, robin iella. 87. C taclysta Robinsonii, 181. Dermestes dissector, 176. 173. '* Catops Spenciana, lardarius, 176. Cemiostoma a'be'la n. sp., 23, 209. '" Desmia maculalis, 126. Laburnella, 21. " subdivisalis, 126. 24. " Scitella, Dichelonyca Bachii, 212. spartitoliella, 23. " elongatula, 213. susinella 209. 23, subvittata, 213. Ceratocampa imperialis, 37. 4i testacea, 213. Cetonia fulgida, 213. " virescens, 212. Chcerocampa pampinatrix, 6(j. Diplotax's tristis, 191. Ch< leva Spenciana, 173. Doryphora 10-lineata, 41. Clerus nigripes, 15. " Dytiscus confluens, 90, 91. trifasciatus, 15. " Franklinii, 90. 12. Clisiocampa Americana, Harnsii, 90. Coccinella. 9 notata, 13, 4iS. " marginalis, 90. Colias Eur.\ theme, 82, 101. " " Ooligbukii, 89, 90. Keewaydin, 82. " politus, 31. Colvmbetes assimilis, 32. ater, 32. E bic 30. " lor, bifarius, 31. Edwards, W. H., Articles by, 70. chalconatus, 32. Enemy, New Insect, to Turnip and Rape, dolabratus, 89. 98. fuscus, 89. Entomology, 32, 61, 198. '* irroratus, 89. Entomologists in France, 99. 80. Entomological Books, New, 199. " MacCullochii, notatus, 32. Gleanin.s, 14. " '• paludosus, 31. Notes from Lakes Huron 31. and 81. " phseopterus, Superior, picipes. 31. Picnic, 71. 31. EphemeriD.£, How to Preserve, 119. " reticulatus, rugicollis, 89. Errata, 38, 59, 94, 126. 130. 181, 234. sculptilis, 89. Exchanges, 16, 39, 59, 80, 100, 120, 140, 31. 159, 180, 200, 220, 236. " seniipunctatus, 30, striatus, 89. Eacles imperialis, 37. 4t triseriatus, 88. Ebulea tertialis, 72. Conotrachelus Elater 230. nenuphar, 12, 26, 65. " seripennis, Cossonus 15. 230. platalea, " impressus, Corticaria denticulata, 174. memnonius, 229. " impressa, 175. Ellopia rihearia. 8. Cratonychus castanipes, 229. Erebus odora, 84. Creophilus maxillosus, 134. Eumenes frater na, 62. villosus, 134. Euphanessa mendica, 227. Cryptobium bicolor, 94. F pallipes, 94. Cryptophagus concolor, 175. Friendly Notes, 117. humeralis, 175. G Cryptus samife, 202. Smithii, 202. 'J Good Effects of Entomology, 65. 230. Cteniceruscnpreus, Grote, Aug. R., Articles by, 101, 124, 181, Kendalli, 230. 192. Cucujus clavipes, 15. Grasshoppers, 139. IXDEX TO VOLUME III. 239

Gbasshqppers from Colorado, New, 168. Gelechia geminella, 190. Kip.by's Insects of British North glandulella, 118. Am- Gnophria vittata, 30. erica, 27, 88, 116, 134, 155, 172. 186, Gnorimus maculosus, 214. 211, 227. Grapholitha oculana, 13. L C. Grapta" alhum, 117. 70. Lepidoptera from Florida, 79. " Fabricii, faunus, 10. Lepidopterous larvae, notes on, 225. 119. London Branch Meetings, 13, 217. " interrogationis, 70, progne, 10. Laccophilus Americanus, 30. 92. biguttatus. 30. Gyrinus" reneus, Am^ricanus, 91. fa-ciatus, 30. analis, 92. minutus, 30. 30. boreal is, 92. proximus, impressicollis, 91. Lachnosterna fusca, 192. " Lathrobium lineatus, 92. bicolor, 94. 92. dentatum, 93. " mar.nus, Gravenhorstii, 93. " minutus, 93. ventralis, 92. puncticolle, 93. 221. Gyrohypnus assimilis, 94. Layerna cephalortthiella, n. sp., Leiodes puncto-striatus, 174. H Leionotus Franklinii, 90. Hints to Fruit 116. " Growers, 12, 25, 66, 149. Leistotrophus cingulatus, for 113. Lema trilineata, 43. ^ Packing, Hale idota f Leucanthiza maculata, Notes on Larva o , Amphicarpeaefoliella, 162, 186. 205. 28. Leucanthiza v. 127. Haliplus" immaculicollis, ornateHa, sjh, 87, 88, v. 205. impressus, 28. Saundersella, sp. , 49. Limenitis arthemis, 117. Harpalus caligiuosus, i4 Hesperia conspicua, 51. " disippus, 52, 117. Hippodamia convergens, 42. Ursula, 52, 117. 13 Lithocolletis 130. " punctata, 13, 48. aceriella, 48. asrifeella, 183. _ maculata, Hister sesculisella. " depurator, 188. Ill, 112. 188. n. 183. " Hariri, ambiosicee'la, sp., 127, 15. 182. " Lecontei, argentifimbriella, 57, Paykulii, 188. ar^entinotella, 148. 182. Hydaticus" MacUullochii, 89. basistrigella, 148, 149, 166, rugicollis, 89. Bethune la. n. sp., 109. Hydrobius fuscipes. 187. Caryce-aZbella, n. sp., 58, 85, marginellus, 187. 182, 205. melanoc phalus, 187. car.vpe foliella, 109. 165. Hydroporus catascopium, 28. celtifoliclla, n. sp., 128. duodecimlineatus, 29. ce tisella, n. sp., 129. interruptus, 28. Clemense'la, n. sp., 57, 85, 205. lsevis, 28. Cincinnatitlla, n. sp., 146, 149. nigro-lineatus, 28. clerckella, 182. parallelus, 28. corylieUa, n. sp., Ill, 112, 127, picatus, 29. 166. picipes. 29. crataegella, 55, 108, 166. similis, 29. curvilineatella, 184. Hylobius pales, 15. desmodiella, 127, 162. Hylurgus terebrans, 15. Fitchella, 183. Hyperetis alienaria, on the Larva 209. geminatella, 183. of, (< Hyphantria cunea, 36. guttifinitella, 110, 111, 112. " ( ( textor, 69. hainadryadella, 55, 147, 164,182. 165. I juglandiella, lucetiella, 56. Inquilinous moth larva, 195. lucidicostella, n. sp., 57,85, 182, Ips De Jeauii, 173. 205 fasciatus, 15. multipunctella, 72. sanguineolentus, 15. niilificansella, 184.

nonfasciella n. , 108. J sp. obscuricostella, 85. Jones J. M., Articles by, 37. obstrictella, 183. mmx

~j\

#'H-* •V d S "^q?

1 * ' C r *~*~^ r ^ s^tk r ^ U

<* "

V & ft!

: %

^£re

c<_>;

Ci ^ V